Karnataka - Hassan   

Congress making efforts to retain its position in Arsikere

Muralidhar Khajane

Direct fight between Congress, Janata Dal (S) in most constituencies

HASSAN: With the Janata Dal (Secular) gaining strength in Arsikere taluk because of the efforts of State-level leaders who settled differences with taluk-level leaders, the Congress, which controlled Arsikere Taluk Panchayat and bagged five of the seven seats in the previous zilla panchayat elections, is making efforts to retain its hold on its five constituencies.

Among the eight taluks in the district, Arsikere taluk is most neglected. Owing to lack of political patronage, no development work has been taken up in the taluk.

Though the people are craving for drinking water from the Hemavathi for the past several years, no party has taken steps to meet their demand.

Owing to increase of fluoride content in drinking water, people in many villages are affected by fluorosis. The taluk faces perennial drought.

Though the previous zilla panchayat forwarded a Rs. 50-crore proposal to the Government to solve the problem, no decision has beentaken in that regard.

Padayatra

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly B.S. Yediyurappa took out a padayatra and covered several villages of taluk to urge the Government to implement the Honnavalli Lift Irrigation Scheme. However, it failed to achieve the desired result.

People of the taluk aver that the panchayat polls will have no impact on these problems, as the elections are fought purely on caste lines.

There are seven zilla panchayat and 26 taluk panchayat constituencies in the taluk that has a population of 3.03 lakhs. With the addition of Narsipur constituency, the number of taluk panchayat constituencies has increased from 25 to 26. There are 289 polling booths, of which 109 have been identified as hyper sensitive.

Campaigning

While Minister for Information B. Shivaram, who represents Gandsi constituency that comes under Arsikere taluk, is trying to save his image by campaigning in the rural areas, former zilla panchayat member K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, who lost to Mr. Shivaram in the previous Assembly elections, is said to be wooing the electorate by highlighting the development works taken up in the constituency by the previous body.

The defection of former MLA Prabhukumar from the Janata Dal (S) to the Congress has helped the latter to some extent. The role played by senior Congress leader Harnahalli Ramaswamy in getting ticket for his followers has also created disgruntlement among party leaders. Congress rebels are in fray in a few taluk panchayat seats and in two zilla panchayat constituencies.

In a tactical move, the Janata Dal (S) leaders succeeded in sorting out differences among former MLA Parameshwarappa, former zilla panchayat president G.S. Gurusiddappa and Lokesh, according to sources.

Though the Bharatiya Janata Party has a sway in the taluk, it will not help win the zilla and taluk panchayat elections, as the party MLA A.S. Basavaraj has reportedly lost his popularity, party sources said. However, the BJP is making efforts to retain two seats, which it was holding in the previous taluk panchayat and win one or two seats in the zilla panchayat, a party leader said.

Arsikere is dominated by the Lingayats and all parties have tried to accommodate candidates belonging to the community.

Triangular contest

While there is triangular fight among the Congress, the Janata Dal (S) and the BJP in Aggunda and Bageshpura constituencies, the All-India Progressive Janata Dal and Samajwadi Party have fielded their candidates in all the other constituencies, including Kanakatte, Baanavara, Harnahalli, Gandsi and Javagal. However, it is a straight fight between the Congress and the Janata Dal (S) in all the constituencies, and the BJP may frustrate both the parties in a few taluk panchayat constituencies.

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Congress making efforts to retain its position in Arsikere

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