Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Nov 15: In the election meant to elect two representatives of local bodies in Dakshina Kannada constituency being held for the council next month, the Congress and the BJP were expecting to bag one seat each till a couple of days back. But the entry of veteran leader of the cooperative sector, Dr M N Rajendra Kumar, is likely to change the game altogether.

Out of the 5,914 voters for the two members to be elected from Dakshina Kannada constituency that includes Udupi district, about 3,400 are BJP supporters. Nearly 2,100 are Congress supporters and nearby 450 voters support SDPI, JD(S) and independents. For a candidate to win, about 2,200 first preference votes might be sufficient.

Dr M N Rajendra Kumar

While the victory of BJP candidate appears to be a forgone conclusion, Rajendra Kumar's entry has posed problems for the Congress. Most of the local body members from the twin districts are associated with cooperative sector and most of the women members of gram panchayats are linked with Navodaya self-help groups. Therefore many of them are likely to support Rajendra Kumar, and several have already pledged their support for him. If excess votes of the BJP and votes of independents and other local bodies are diverted to Kumar, the Congress candidate will have a herculean task on hand.

The BJP does not face any problem even if some of its members cross vote as it has excess votes. But for the Congress, a few votes which are cast to others will pose problems for its candidate.

There is the likelihood of the SDPI fielding its candidate even though it has not taken e a final decision so far.