HASSAN: The Channarayapatna Assembly constituency is different in many ways, compared to the other seven segments in Hassan district. According to local MLA, C.S. Putte Gowda, it is difficult to read the minds of the electorate here.

Though the people elected H.C. Srikantaiah of Congress in the Assembly election in 1999, they later chose Janata Dal (Secular) in the elections to zilla and taluk panchayat later.

While the Janata Dal (S) won 17 of the 23 seats in the taluk panchayat and four of the five zilla panchayat seats, the Congress could secure six and one seat respectively.

According to sources in District Congress Committee (DCC), the anti-incumbency factor was the reason for the humiliating defeat of the party. However, while it is now trying to improve its tally, the Janata Dal (S) is investing all its resources to retain its position.

As far as the problems are concerned, the farmers, who are facing problems due to the implementation of Bagur-Navile Tunnel Project, are still waiting to get relief six years after the project was taken up. Farmers in over 40 villages of Bagur hobli in the taluk are facing problems, as lift irrigation schemes proposed have not been completed owing to non-availability of funds. Due to seepage of groundwater into the tunnel, borewells in the area have gone dry. The affected farmers, led by former president of taluk panchayat Mari Dyave Gowda, recently staged a demonstration in front of the tahsildar's office and submitted a memorandum.

According to sources, only part of the work on the Bagur scheme has been completed and the canal work is yet to be taken up. Same is the situation with Navile, Kallesomanahalli and Obalapura schemes. The work on these projects has been delayed owing to paucity of funds. Also, the claim for compensation for crop loss to the tune of Rs. 26 crores as assessed by the Irrigation and Horticulture Departments has not been settled so far. While the number of taluk panchayat constituencies has increased from 23 to 25, with the inclusion of Gowdagere constituency, the number of zilla panchayat constituencies has increased from six to seven. Of the 258 polling booths in the taluk, 108 have been identified as super-sensitive and 90 as sensitive.

With Mr. Srikantaiah sorting out his differences with local leaders, whom he antagonised during the run-up to the General elections in 2004, the Congress has gained its lost strength in the constituency. His detractors, including A.B. Nanjundappa, C.N. Chandre Gowda, R. Raje Gowda, C.S. Jayaram, who worked against him then owing to disagreements with H.C. Vijayakumar, are now working for party. The fight between former zilla panchayat member C.N. Balakrishna and local MLA C.S. Putte Gowda is troubling the Janata Dal (S).

For Minister for Public Works and Energy H.D. Revanna, D. Kalenahalli constituency has become the prestigious one, as Mr. Balakrishna, who is contesting from here is his relative and is being considered as the next president of the zilla panchayat in case his party gets majority. However, Janata Dal (S) is apprehensive of the impact the AHINDA movement has in many of the constituencies in the taluk.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail