Karnataka   

Independents have the upper hand

Chitradurga: Although Chitradurga district has largely remained a stronghold of the Congress, interestingly it has been the independent candidates who have held sway over the voters. On many occasions, independent candidates have won the elections and have gone on to join the Congress.

In the six constituencies of the district, such a situation is mostly seen in Hosadurga, Chitradurga and Holalkere taluks.

After Independence, Hosadurga taluk has witnessed Assembly elections 12 times. Of which, independent candidates have won five times, while the Congress has been returned six times with the erstwhile Progressive Socialist Party candidate G. Rangappa triumphing in the 1962 elections.

Another interesting thing in Hosadurga is that, the people have seldom elected the same candidate for two consecutive terms. Except the former MLA and Congress candidate, B.G. Govindappa, and another former MLA, G. Basappa, no other candidate have won the elections for two terms.

Mr. Basappa has won the elections twice but they were 31 years apart. He got elected for the first time on the Congress ticket in 1952 and again won the seat in 1983 as an independent candidate. Similar is the case of Mr. Govindappa.

He won in the 1999 elections as an independent candidate only to join the Congress and won the last elections also.

“As the people of the taluk give importance to individuals than political parties, the independent candidates have an upper hand,” said L. Ranganath, a senior citizen of the taluk.

Quoting an example of how voters chose independent candidates, he said that for three terms (between 1989 and 1999), the three former MLAs, R. Vijaykumar, T.H. Basavaraj and Mr. Govindappa, won as independent candidates.

The story might get repeated mainly in Hosadurga and Hiriyur taluks where independent candidates are considered as strong contenders.

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