The Hindu : Anti-incumbency factor may have an impact: Wadiyar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 18, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Anti-incumbency factor may have an impact: Wadiyar

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, JAN. 17. Srikantadutta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, MP, said here on Saturday that he would contest the Lok Sabha elections only if the Congress High Command wished him to do so.

He was speaking after releasing a directory-cum-diary of the Mysore District Journalists' Association.

Mr. Wadiyar said he did not seek the ticket even during the previous elections, but the High Command asked him to contest.

"Though I am reluctant to contest again owing to health reasons, I will abide by the High Command's decision. In case, I am denied the ticket, I will canvass for the party in the Mysore region," Mr. Wadiyar said.

Commenting on the Congress's move to seek alliances, Mr. Wadiyar said it was a welcome development which would help the party provide a stable government. On the issue of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Wadiyar pointed out that it would cut the expenditure, but one could not discount the anti-incumbency factor, especially in the Mysore region.

An acute water scarcity due to drought was plaguing the region.

This might or might not have a major impact on the voters' choice, but one could not discount it, especially because there were complaints of poor relief works.

The mood was sullen since drought had been prevailing for three years.

Refuting suggestions that he had not worked in rural areas in his constituency, Mr. Wadiyar said he had toured the entire constituency and financed development works in rural and urban areas.

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