Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 9: As an MP representing Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha constituency, Shobha Karandlaje has served her constituency well. The BJP, after much dilly-dallying and permutations and combinations, has elevated her as a union minister. Shobha, who is from a rural background, will henceforth be able to influence the way the nation is run.

However, it is to be noted that even after winning her Lok Sabha constituency with a huge margin, her home constituency did not erupt in celebrations for her victory and no sweets were distributed like in the case of other MPs. BJP leaders show a lot of enthusiasm to celebrate the election of even local workers or their elevation to important posts. Even though for Shobha it is a giant leap to the central government, the party workers here have not shown any elation that is expected of them. Their reaction has remained subdued to say the least.

Shobha has always been identified as one among the close confidantes of the chief minister in the state politics. Right from 2004, she has served as a member of the legislative council, MLA, rural development and panchayat raj minister, besides serving food and civil supplies department energy portfolio, women empowerment, protection committee etc. The result of the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru Lok Sabha election changed her very political focus. In 2019, she won with the highest margin of votes in Karnataka, although purely on the basis of the sheer popularity of Narendra Modi.

A 'Go Back Shobha' campaign had been carried out clandestinely by a faction within the BJP when it sensed that Shobha would be fielded again for the Lok Sabha election to the detriment of local leaders and also because of the distance she had maintained with them and the constituency. In spite of this, Shobha won the election through Modi wave and now has become a union minister.

Udupi district is known as a high literacy district but the people here do not have their own in-charge minister. Their hope that this time they might get a minister of their own as in-charge minister was shattered after home minister Basavaraj Bommai, filled the post. Because of pressure of work, Bommai rarely comes here, and indirectly the deputy commissioner has been discharging his duties.

Shobha looked more like a guest, not MP. Will she be available to the people now?

Shobha Karandlaje is identified with the state politics and she has remained as a guest in the party programmes held here occasionally. Other than that, she attends quarterly Disha meetings. Rather than becoming popular by mingling with the people here and addressing their problems, she got publicity because more out of her controversial statements.

In Udupi, she was confined to announcing central government schemes, but as far as their implementation is concerned, she remained a far cry. For example, even after years since Malpe-Thirthahalli road was upgraded as a national highway, the land acquisition process is limping. The wretched state of the highway at Parkala and the problem it creates for the people using the road are terrible. The BJP leaders themselves say that they have nothing to cheer about Shobha becoming a minister, and that she can be given some credit if she can get the Manipal-Parkala stretch of the road repaired. BJP leaders personally expressed this feeling, speaking to daijiworld. Shobha has neither freely mixed with the people of her constituency nor discusses local issues frequently with the leaders here. Many leaders are boiling internally out of anger at Shobha having been made an MP as she spurned their chances. Sources close to her expressed the view that after becoming a minister, she might not visit her constituency at least for some time now.

It is a big leap for Shobha's political career even though Shobha has never cemented cordial relationship with the party workers here. Therefore party workers believe that her elevation might not come as a boon for Udupi. Many express the suspicion that she might remain merely as a visitor or guest who comes to this constituency once in a while as before. She has thanked the voters of the constituency for her success, but it is curious to see how the party workers will handle her. Because the people had high expectations from her when she became an MP, but their experience has been bitter.

Will Shobha give more attention to her constituency and meet the people's aspirations now onwards? Already, many opinions, both for and against, and unhappiness are being poured out at her elevation in social websites. If she continues to function as before, one has to wait and watch what kind of challenges she might encounter in her future political career.