Mangalore: Congress Camp Jubilant over Khader's Victory

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)
Pics Sphoorti Ullal, Rajesh Shetty and Praveen Tauro Kulshekar

Final standing:

U T Khader (Congress)            46,271
Chandrashekhar Uchil (BJP)    38,239
Abubakkar Natekal  (JDS)         6,217
J Balakrishna Shetty (CPIM)     4,803
Bharat Raj Shetty                    1,196
Total                                      96,726

Mangalore, Jun 5: There was no bound to the joy of Congress party workers as soon as it was announced on Tuesday, June 5 morning that U T Khader had won the Ullal by-poll by defeating his nearest rival Chandrashekhar Uchil by 8,032 votes.  The entire Congress camp was jubilant over Khader's victory.

Though Ullal is believed to be a strong fortress of Congress for years, this time around, there were a few doubts about its outright win.  While the fight was between Congress and BJP, the entry of JD (S) was considered something that would tilt the scales. Abubakkar Natekal is a familiar name in Ullal because of his social work and generous deeds.  Moreover, there was a popular perception that he had been fielded in order to divide Congress' votes, since there are more Muslim voters in the constituency. But that did not materialize.

The defeat has come as a big shock to BJP which was confident of a win with a handsome margin. Since the chief minister and deputy chief minister too had camped in the constituency and campaigned for their respective party candidates, there was a feeling that BJP would cruise to victory.

Moreover, this time only 60% polling - the lowest ever in Ullal - had been recorded which was thought to a major hurdle for Congress.  Those who could not vote either for not holding proper ID proof or any other reason were mostly Muslims.  Besides, many members of the Christian and Muslim communities are working abroad.  Although UT  Khader had been working hand in hand with his father, he was considered to be inexperienced and too young.

But he disproved all theories as he raced to a comfortable victory.  What is heartening to Congress is that the victory margin is increased by over a thousand votes than last time when his father U T Farehad won.  It is a marked loss for BJP since last time too Chandrashekhar Uchil was their candidate and he had been defeated by more than 7,000 votes.

The election has thrown out an interesting fact that U T Khader managed to garner good part of Hindu votes too.  This is indeed a big positive point to U T Khader's credit and that of Congress, since it was believed that the communal riots that rocked the city and Ullal in particular had distanced Hindus from Congress.  But this has now been proved wrong.

Local leaders and even the voters agree that U T Khader has won this election more out of  his personal charisma.  Over the years, when his father was ailing, he had efficiently managed to fulfil his father's duties and had carefully nursed the constituency.  This had given him a chance to meet people, interact with them and continue welfare works.  Being young, he had managed to establish good rapport with youth from all the communities.  Moreover, he has always been media and people-friendly. 

Locals say that he mingles with people quite easily and without any hassle.  A law graduate, he is also academically sound as against the BJP candidate who has only completed his SSLC.  Khader is said to have done commendable job during the communal riots to maintain peace in the area and control youth from his community from resorting to violence.  This had helped him in many ways to increase his popularity.  A man of few words, he is believed to be speaking more through his deeds.

All through his lifetime, the late U T Fareed too was considered to be people-friendly and had maintained a clean record.  Though Ullal is a sensitive area, Fareed had seldom given an opportunity to anyone to point a finger at him. His clean image had done a world of good to Congress.  While it lost most of its seats in the last general election, Fareed had managed to win which was more owing to his personal charm.

Now that UT Khader has won the elections, everything is not over.  He has a lot of challenges ahead him and many tasks to be completed.  One of the major demands of the locals has been finding a permanent solution for sea erosion which is so rampant here.  He had promised that he would harness all his energy and resources to find a solution to this problem.  He has also resolved to solve the long-pending breakwater problem.  Being young he has time and energy with him.  If he is able to keep up the faith placed in him by the voters, it would surely be a boon to Congress in the district where it has lost its hold in the last few years.

Tuesday, June 5 Morning Report: