Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Oct 12: An exciting political war is on the cards early next year when Udupi - Chikmaglur Lok Sabha constituency goes for byelections after chief minister Sadananda Gowda, who is the current member of parliament from the region, vacates his seat and resign from the post.
Sadananda Gowda is seeking election as MLC from Raichur, with N Shankarappa, the current MLC from the district, sacrificing his seat for the CM.
According to political experts in the state, the byelections for Udupi-Chikmaglur constitution is likely to take palce during March-April 2012. Both BJP and Congress parties seem to be already engrossed in nominating their party candidates. For both the parties, it has never been easy to choose candidates, not for lack of probables, but for excess.
JP Hegde and Sunil Kumar
Former MLA from Karkala Sunil Kumar is reportedly a front-runner for BJP candidature for the Udupi-Chikmaglur constituency. His name was heard during 2009 general elections too. In 2008, he lost the MLA election to Gopal Bhandary of Congress. But he was later actively involved in building the party around Karkala.
During 2009 Lok Sabha elections, he worked behind Sadananda Gowda and ensured his victory. Though there is another probable candidate, Udupi district BJP president Udayakumar Shetty, party sources say Sunil Kumar has better odds given his organisational skills.
In Congress, it would be difficult to speculate at present, as the party has always kept its candidate's announcement in suspense, until the last minute. For this reason, the party has lost many of the MP seats in the last election. The losing candidate of Congress party Jaya Prakash Hegde who lost to Sadananda Gowda with a margin of about 25,000 votes had also blamed the party high command for granting him ticket at the last moment, due to which he could not do much ground work.
Sources close to Congress have told daijiworld that Vinay Kumar Sorake, a former MP is also eyeing the Udupi seat. Encounter specialist Daya Nayak's name was making the rounds last time, but he was denied the ticket. He has better chance this time, with all the cases against him cleared.
According to a senior Congress leader in Karnataka, Udupi - Chikmaglur Congress candidate could be J P Hegde, as this time the party wants to give him a fair time and chance.
The third major political party in Karnataka has almost decided to field a newcomer to the party, former Congressman U R Sabhapathi. But Sabhapati could spoil lots of Congress votes and JD(S) winning the Lok Sabha seat will be almost impossible.