Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Dharam Singh set to create a record Key constituency: Jewargi

GULBARGA: All eyes are on Jewargi Assembly constituency in Gulbarga district, which has returned the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh eight times in succession since 1972. Mr. Singh is all set to test his popularity in the constituency for a record ninth time.

It has always been a tough fight for him.

The constituency has more or less remained unaffected in the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the district and its status as a general constituency stays.

Mr. Singh, who began his political career as an Independent corporator in the then Gulbarga City Municipal Council, joined the Congress in the late 1960s.

A Gandhi family loyalist, he sided with Indira Gandhi when the party split, and this proved to be a crucial turn in his political life.

He was rewarded with a ticket to fight a political heavyweight and two-time MP Mahadevappa Rampure in the 1972 elections. Mr. Rampure was fielded by the Congress (O), and Mr. Singh won by a margin of 7,000 votes.

Popular in political circles as “Ajatashatru,” Mr. Singh is known for his perseverance and hard work and has the reputation of maintaining cordial relationship with all leaders, irrespective of their political affiliations.

Although rumours are rife that Mr. Singh may like to field his son Ajay Singh as the Congress candidate in the constituency, sources close to Mr. Singh said that he would be contesting the election for the last time.

Mr. Singh faces a tough test this time with a rejuvenated BJP fielding Doddappa Gowda Patil Naribol, son of Shivalingappa Naribol who had thrice unsuccessfully contested against Mr. Singh from Jewargi.

The Janata Dal (S) is likely to field Kedarlingaiah Hiremath, chairman of the Gulbarga District Urban Cooperative Credit Bank.

The advantages for Mr. Singh are the reported consolidation of the two powerful backward class communities — Kurubas and Kabbaligas — in favour of the Congress after former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the former MLC Vittal Herur joined the Congress.

The Lingayat votes this time may get divided as both the BJP and Janata Dal (S) are fielding two powerful Lingayat nominees.

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