GULBARGA: The high-profile campaign for Saturday's election to the Legislative Council from the Karnataka North-east Graduates' constituency came to an end on Friday evening with the major contenders making an all-out attempt to woo voters. The constituency is spread over Gulbarga, Bellary, Bidar, Raichur and Koppal districts and Harpanahalli taluk in Davangere district.

The BJP leader, the late M.R. Tanga, won from this constituency in the last three elections.

The BJP, which has fielded Manohar Maski, hailing from Sindhanur in Raichur district, has for the first time exhibited its "money power" by putting up huge cut-outs of Mr. Maski in almost all the major cities and towns in the constituency. The absence of any control by the State Election Commission on expenditure incurred by the contesting candidates, unlike in elections to the Assembly and the Lok Sabha, has come in handy for them to go on a spending spree.

The Congress, which is making all efforts to end the dominance of the BJP in the constituency, has fielded a former member of the Gulbarga University Senate and Syndicate, Koralli Suryakant. The Janata Dal (Secular) has fielded Sangameshwar, who lost to Dr. Tanga by seven votes in the first Council election contested by the BJP leader.

The Janata Dal (United) and the All-India Progressive Janata Dal have fielded Shivaraj Patil and Ranganagouda Patil respectively. There are two independents in the fray: Congress party rebel Gulam Rabbani and Yeshwantrao Hattarki. But the contest appears to be among the BJP, the Congress and the JD(S).

Generally, elections from the graduates' and teachers' constituencies are low profile. But the trend set in this high-spending election will deter from future contests deserving candidates who do not have money to throw around.

Although the BJP has won the seat three times, the party appears to be on shaky ground this time with the emergence of the Congress as a major threat to its dominance. The presence of Prof. Sangameshwar of the JD(S) in the fray is another worry for the BJP. Prof. Sangameshwar, who is actively involved in the teachers' movement and is an office-bearer of the Federation of University College Teachers Associations of Karnataka, is a popular figure among teachers.

The Congress, apart from its share of votes from upper caste voters, is banking on the sizeable number of voters among the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Muslims to upset the calculations of the BJP. Voters in the rural areas, who account for more than half the electorate, will play a crucial role in deciding the fate of the major contenders. While Prof. Sangameshwar had very little time to campaign because his candidature was announced at the last moment, Mr. Maski and Mr. Suryakant have toured the constituency at least three times.

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