The Hindu : Karnataka News : Vatal Nagaraj faces stiff competition in Chamarajanagar

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Karnataka

Vatal Nagaraj faces stiff competition in Chamarajanagar

Correspondent

There could be division of votes within the Uppara community

CHAMARAJANAGAR: The President of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Vatal Nagaraj, who is contesting for the seventh time from Chamarajanagar Assembly Constituency will face a tough fight from the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) candidates from the constituency this time round.

The Congress had realised that the defeat of its candidate in Chamarajanagar in previous elections was due to the stronghold of the 35,000 Uppara community vote bank, which preferred to vote in favour of Mr. Nagaraj. This time, it has given its

ticket to Vice-president of zilla panchayat and Uppara community leader, Puttaranga Shetty, to contest from Chamarajanagar. Though the Janata Dal (S) has given its ticket to another Uppara community leader G.M. Gadkar, the JD(S) high command changed its mind and give it to M. Shivakumar also of the Uppara community.

The Uppara community are now in a dilemma today on who to vote for.

They were happy with Congress’s Mr. Puttarangashetty, but with the announcement of candidates Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Gadkar, there is a possibility of a division of votes within the community. Meanwhile, another leader of the Uppara community, Noorondu Shetty and his followers joined the BJP, which could ultimately benefit Mr. Nagaraj.

Previous elections

Mr. Nagaraj was elected to the Assembly five times from three different constituencies.

He won Chamarajanagar Assembly Constituency as an Independent in 1989, 1994 and 2004 elections. Mr. Nagaraj espouses using Kannada in administration, screening Kannada films and retaining Belgaum in the State.

Causes

He has taken up many causes on behalf of the common man. Leading a one-man political outfit, he holds seminars, discussions and meetings on various topical issues of the State.

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