Mangalore: Element of High Drama in By-Election at Ullal Constituency
from Melka Miyar in Ullal - with pics by Rajesh Shetty
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
(Report coordinated by Richie Lasrado)
Mangalore, May 27: The Ullal constituency is witnessing high drama of by-election now. The blame game among the politicians of different parties is going in full swing.
Every political leader is now busy blaming the other party leaders. But the voters here are enjoying all this drama and waiting for June 2 to exercise their voting right.
The Ullal constituency also has created a scope for a rift between JD (S) and BJP who are the partners of coalition government in the state. Both parties have been vouching that this is a friendly fight between the two parties.
While at an election campaign on Friday May 25, state minister and also the JD (S) leader Iqbal Ansari declared that Kumaraswami would continue as chief minister even after the completion of his term, if JDS were to win in Ullal. The chief minister was present on the dais while Ansari spoke so. Later he clarified that he was committed to handing over the CM's post to a BJP candidate later this year and washed his hands off saying that he did not know in what context Ansari had made the remark.
BJP state president and Mangalore MP Sadananda Gowda took this statement lightly and described it as an election stunt. But Yediyurappa, present deputy chief minister and widely expected chief ministerial candidate from BJP after completion of JD (S) term, is furious over this statement. He is said to have sought an explanation from both Ansari and Kumaraswamy, especially since the remark was made in the CM's presence.
On the other hand, Congress is jittery over the way JD(S) has been going about campaigning. Even chief minister Kumaraswami has camped in the city on Saturday and Sunday and has campaigned in favour of his candidate Abubakkar Natekal for about 2 days. Interestingly, the chief minister has concentrated only on minorities here. Hence, the Congress leaders are blaming JD (S) leaders for breaking minority votes.
Janardhan Poojary, former KPCC president, on Saturday May 26 alleged that, JD (S) was sure about its defea and yet the party leaders fielded their candidate only to break the minority votes. Congress or BJP could win this constituency this time, but never JDS. Even though JD (S) is concentrating on minorities here, it is only to help the BJP, he alleged. On the other hand, he cautioned the voters that casting a single vote in favour of JD (S) means would mean two votes for BJP. The CPI has also declared its support to Congress, on the basis of ‘secularism’.
Congress has also taken this election seriously than any recent past elections in the coastal area. To counter the effect of the village stay of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, some bigwigs of the party have decided to stay in the constituency until the election. Hemanath Shetty from Puttur, Byndoor MLA Gopal Poojary, former minister D K Shivakumar, former Karkala MLA Gopal Bhandary and other leaders are reported to have decided to camp here until the election is through.
CPI (M) candidate Balakrishna Shetty has also taken the election seriously and is busy with the door-to-door campaign. Bangarappa, president of state Samajavadi Party has pledged his support to CPI (M) here and joined a campaign for him on Saturday.
Whatever it is, it is no doubt a straight fight between BJP candidate Chandrashekhar Uchil and Congress candidate U T Khader. The BJP is highlighting the developmental work done by the coalition government in the state. On the other hand, Congress is trying to capitalize on its past achievements and secularism.
The question which would remain unanswered till June 5: Who will the voter favour? With cross-voting and abstentions, will a surprise result emerge?
Let's keep our fingers crossed.
All Eyes on Ullal: