Karnataka   

A contest sure to bring in exciting results

DAVANGERE: The Davangere South Assembly constituency will witness a keen contest between a senior Congress leader and a young Janata Dal (Secular) candidate. Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who is over 77 years of age, and has been in politics for the last 45 years, will take on H.S. Nagaraj of the Janata Dal (S), aged 45, the time spent by Mr. Shivashankarappa in politics.

The Davangere Assembly segment has been split into two — Davangere South and Davangere North after the recent delimitation exercise. The undivided Davangere Assembly constituency was a Congress stronghold till Emergency was imposed in the country.

Bellary Siddamma of the Congress won the first election in 1952 and later, K.T. Jambanna of the Praja Socialist Party had won in 1957. Kondajji Basappa of the Congress won in 1962 and 1967, and Nagamma Keshavamurthy of the Congress won in 1972.

The Congress had lost grip over the constituency after the imposition of Emergency, and from 1978 to 1985, the Communist Party of India candidate and trade union leader Pampapathy won from there thrice consecutively. Mothi Veeranna of the Congress had won the Davangere Assembly segment in 1989, and in 1994, Mr. Shivashankarappa was victorious. Later, Mr. Shivashankarappa’s son S.S. Mallikarjun had to contest from the segment as Mr. Shivashankarappa had won the Davangere Lok Sabha elections. Mr. Shivashankarappa won the by-elections in 1998 as well as the general elections in 1999. He later, returned to State politics and won from the Davangere Assembly segment in 2004.

Having won the Assembly elections two times as well as the Lok Sabha elections once, Mr. Shivashankarappa has vast exposure to politics. Mr. Shivashankarappa, whose contribution to the stabilisation of the economy of the district after the closure of textile mills (which were the lifeline of the people of Davangere), is well known by most residents. Through the Bapuji Education Association, he has established a vast network of professional colleges here.

He also established a popular co-operative bank called the Bapuji Co-operative Bank. These institutions have offered employment to several people of the district.

Mr. Nagaraj, who is the son of H. Shivappa, a former Minister, is contesting the Assembly elections for the first time.

He played an important part in the Janata Dal (Secular) victory in the City Corporation elections, and is popular among Muslims in Azad Nagar, Jolly Nagar and Basha Nagar of the constituency. Mr. Shivashankarappa, although 77, is vibrant in his campaign. He has visited all the extensions in the Assembly segment and interacted with residents. His declaration that this would be his last elections, has further moved many people of the constituency.

Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Yashwantha Rao, who is contesting the elections for the second time, is yet to gain ground in the constituency.

Mr. Rao, who was president of the Davangere City Municipality, has to his credit the initiation of several public interest projects in the constituency.

Syed Shahin of the Samajwadi Party, T. Ataulla of the Indian Muslim League, H.R. Ashok Reddy of the Janata Dal (United), Narendra Rao Pawar of the Bahujan Samaj Party and independent candidates H.K. Kenchaveerappa, Mohammed Jabiulla and K.M. Ravishankar are also in the fray.

The constituency has 1,59,708 voters of whom 81,133 are men and 78,575 are women. The district administration has set up 153 polling stations in the segment.

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