Pralhad Joshi faces uphill task in Lok Sabha polls

Hubli: Sitting Hubli Dharwad MP and state BJP president Prahlad Joshi will not have an easy time retaining his seat in 2014 due to various factors.

Sriram Sene chief Pramod Mutalik, who has a sizeable number of supporters in Hubli-Dharwad, is set to enter the fray against Joshi. The two-day state executive meeting of Sene, which began here on Saturday, discussed various strategies to be adopted against Joshi. The Sene’s move and the uncertainty over KJP’s decision to merge with BJP, has left Joshi loyalists anxious though they are working hard to make the best of the Modi wave ahead of the elections.

“We will hold Hindu conventions in Hubli ahead of the elections to mobilize more people”, Sene state general secretary Kumar Hakari said. Mutalik had approached several BJP leaders seeking a Lok Sabha seat from any constituency in North Karnataka but did not succeed in his effort and is now planning to contest as an Independent. Sources said the Sene is awaiting the move of KJP founder B.S. Yeddyurappa and is hopeful of his support  if the former CM does not return to the BJP.

Joshi had won the previous election with a huge margin of 1.38 lakh votes. But, it will be difficult for him this time as the BJP has lost four Assembly seats in Dharwad district in the recent polls. Party leaders are therefore banking on the Modi wave if the BJP chief decides to contest again.

“We have decided to hold another mammoth Hindu convention on January 22 in Hubli on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. We are planning to mobilize more than 1 lakh people and other pontiffs for the convention ahead of the general elections”, Sriram Sene vice president Dr Eshwargouda Patil said.

Sources said the possibility of BJP offering a Lok Sabha constituency to Mutalik at the last moment cannot be ruled out to prevent him from causing harm to the party in the elections.