The Hindu : Karnataka News : Looking for the right people

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Tuesday, Feb 26, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Looking for the right people

Staff Correspondent

Delimitation has forced parties to reconsider strategies

Chitradurga: With political parties gearing up to face the coming Assembly elections in the State, representatives of leading political parties are framing strategies to select the right candidates in accordance with the changes made to six constituencies of the district by the Delimitation Commission.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is looking to capture Chitradurga, which has so far been a Congress stronghold.

Important role

Some of the aspirants from the BJP who could play an important role in the elections are Tippeswamy and N.R. Lakshmikant. Mr. Tippeswamy, who was once a close associate of Janata Dal (Secular) chief H.D. Deve Gowda, recently joined the BJP and hopes to contest from Challakere constituency.

Mr. Lakshmikant, a former JD(S) leader, who also joined the BJP recently, expects to be allowed to contest from Chitradurga. District president of the party G.M. Suresh is also said to be keen on contesting from Chitradurga. Party leader Siddesh Yadav is keen on contesting from Hiriyur constituency, which is dominated by the Yadava community. Another BJP leader, Dasari Krishnamurthy, is said to be planning to contest from Molakalmur.

Uninterested

Nagi Reddy, a Janata Party leader who has now joined the BJP, also hopes to contest from Molakalmur. The former Congress leader Chandrappa, who has joined the BJP, aspires to contest from Holalkere. However, with regard to Hosadurga, no one has shown interest.

Some leaders in the Congress are learnt to have started lobbying for a ticket to contest the polls. A.V. Umapati, earlier elected from Holalkere, which has now been reserved for Schedule Caste candidates, is eyeing Hiriyur. Mr. Umapati, a Yadava leader, is hoping to contest from Hiriyur, which is now meant for general category candidates. Zilla panchayat president Geeta Nandini Gowda, who also belongs to the Yadava community, is also said to be eyeing Hiriyur.

The former MLA H. Anjaneya, who plans to join the Congress along with the former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, hopes to contest from Holalkere.

Among the Janata Dal (Secular) leaders, zilla panchayat member Jayanna and district party president D. Yashodhar are lobbying hard for a ticket to contest from Hiriyur constituency.

Lone contender

Anandappa, another leader from Bharamsagar aspires to contest from Holalkere, while Nandeesh has evinced interest in contesting from Hosadurga. As far as Chitradurga is concerned, S.K. Basavarajan, who lost against a Congress candidate in the last election, remains the only Janata Dal (Secular) aspirant.

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