Harshini Brahmavar

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (/SP)

Udupi, Apr 16: The Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency is going to polls on April 18. As the polling date is drawing nearer, election campaigning has been gaining more and more momentum. Both the contenders who have been fielded by the Congress-JD(S) coalition and the BJP, are considered to be strong. In spite of shortage of time and daunting heat, workers of both the sides, who have reasons to complain, have now sunk their differences and concentrated on canvassing for their respective candidates.

Although a section within the BJP is opposed to Shobha Karandlaje's candidature, the party workers find that they have no choice but to support her as their sole aim is bringing back Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. On the other hand, Pramod Madhwaraj, who had always been identified as a Congress leader, has secured ticket from the JD(S) as this constituency was allotted to that party during sharing of constituncies between the coalition partners. No one expected this development till the last minute. 

No doubt the decision of Congress party to field its leader and former minister, Pramod Madhwaraj with JD(S) symbol has angered many Congressmen. Still, both Pramod Madhwaraj and leaders of the Congress are fighting for their prestige. They want to reverse the assembly election trend when saffron party had crushed the Congress, and for that to happen, have forgotten their past, and have been wholeheartedly working for the victory of Pramod.

In the past, this Lok Sabha constituency did not steadily back a particular party over a period of time. In the last election, BJP came out victorious because of Modi wave and new hope the party could kindle in the voters. It may be recalled that K Jayaprakash Hegde, who was fielded by the Congress in 2012 against Sunil Kumar of the BJP had won by securing 3,98,723 votes. But in the 2014 election, Shobha Karandlaje, who was fielded by the BJP, could get 5,81,168 votes.

Like in the previous election, national leaders have been landing here on a continuous basis to make an impression on the voters to cast their votes for their party candidate.

This constituency is unique in many ways. It has been spread over two different districts, one of which is in the coast and the other is in the malnad region. The burning issues in Udupi are sand, permanent drinking water supply scheme, unemployment, national highway, tollgate charges, problems faced by cashew growers etc. In Chikkamagaluru, important issues are problems faced by coffee growers, areca nut, Kasturirangan report, apprehension about eviction of tribals living inside wildlife areas, among others.

The people have no clear opinion about which leader could provide them a lasting solution to these problems.

Coastal Karnataka, which once was in the grip of the Congress, has now slipped out of its hands and BJP has the stronghold. Loyal Congress voters are contemplating whether to cast their votes to the individual or to the JD(S) symbol. In fact, JD(S) does not have a firm footing in Udupi district. As it has only a handful of workers, bringing the workers of two parties together itself poses a formidable challenge. There is however, no doubt that Pramod Madhwaraj is an active politician who has a strong orientation towards progress.

Shobha Karandlaje, who is more of a state level leader, has stumbled on many fronts. She failed to get works done to the level expected by the electorate. She was mostly unavailable for the common people. Not having regular, direct contact with party workers has been a striking issue that can go seriously against her. Although she succeeded in bringing some central government projects to the district, she failed to attend to local issues like sand, fishermen's problems, and burning problems in malnad region. In spite of opposition from the people in Chikkamagaluru district, she has successfully carried out her election campaign there.

However, election in this constituency has never relied on caste calculations or individual prestige. People seem to be going by their loyalties to the parties and not to individuals.

2014 Lok Sabha election result:

Total votes secured: 10,34,334.
BJP votes: 5,81,168
Congress votes: 3,99,525.
JD (S) votes: 38,748.

Since then, BJP has increased its strength in the twin-districts in the assembly election, with the victory of K Raghupati Bhat, Lalaji R Mendon, Halady Srinivas Shetty and V Sunil Kumar of the BJP from Udupi, Kaup, Kundapur and Karkala constituencies respectively. There is already a strong pro-BJP wave that may favour Shobha Karandlaje irrespective of her performance as MP.

In Chikkamagaluru, Mudigere is represented by BJP's M P Kumaraswamy, Chikkamagaluru is represented by BJP's C T Ravi, T D Raje Gowda of the Congress is Sringeri MLA whereas BJP's D S Suresh is the Tarikere MLA.

JD(S) which got power in the state mostly on account of good luck, is trying to somehow maintain it. The chief minister toured the district twice, and doled out promises liberally. This initiative has give to newfound enthusiasm among the party workers. Although Pramod is a JD(S) candidate, a number of meetings are held in the Congress Bhavan.

People have noted that AICC member Amrith Shenoy has been expelled from the party for speaking against the coalition, and for filing nomination against official candidate of the party as an independent. Nevertheless, people have also not forgotten Pramod Madhwaraj's contribution to the development of Udupi constituency during his tenure as MLA, and if development is weighed, the scales may tip in Pramod's favour.

Ultimately, what matters is the choice of electorate. The question to be asked is, would people vote for the individual, the party or the PM? Going by past elections, it is safe to say the Indian electorate is capable of throwing quite a few surprises.

Udupi Lok Sabha constituency: 1. Kundapur: total number of polling booths - 222, No of voters: 2,03,279 (men 97,692, women 1,05,585). 2. Udupi: No of booths - 226, total voters: 2,09,504 (men - 1,01,386, women - 1,08,116, others - 2). 3. Kaup - Total polling booths: 208, total voters - 1,84,101 (men - 87,704, women - 96,384, others 13). 4. Karkala: Total polling booths - 209, total voters: 1,83,528 (men 87,915, women - 95,612, others 1).

Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency:

1. Sringeri: total polling booths: 256, total voters 1,65,498 (men 81,605, women - 83,889, others - 4).2. Mudigere: total booths: 2 5 7, total voters 2,19,958 (men - 1,07,971, women - 107,971, others - 23). 4. Tarikere: total polling booths: 228, total voter - 1,83,589 (men - 92, 183,women - 91,406).

Total for the entire Lok Sabha constituency: 1,837 polling booths spread over eight Lok Sabha constituencies. Total male voters, 7,38,503, female voter, 7,74,674, others - 54, total voters: 15,13,231.