Will Kattis bail out Hukkeris?
Hukkeris and MLA, Umesh Katti’s family , which are related, have won many elections
By : naushad bijapur
Update: 2014-08-07 06:27 GMT
Belgaum: The coming Chikkodi-Sadalga bypoll could be a walkover for the Congress, which has fielded Mr Ganesh Hukkeri, son of former minister, Prakash Hukkeri, as the powerful Katti family, which has dominated politics in the constituency along with Hukkeris, has chosen to stay away from the contest.
Both the Hukkeris and MLA, Umesh Katti’s family , which are related , have won many elections, some allegedly as a result of a tacit understanding between them to let the other win.
While many BJP leaders are finding it hard to understand why the Kattis refused to contest the August 21 bypoll, forcing the party to field a lesser known leader, Mahantesh Kavatgimath as its candidate, sources close to the family say it may have entered into an understanding with the Hukkeris to stay away and pave the way for the Congress candidate's win.
“The bypoll is extremely crucial for Ganesh Hukkeri as his father sacrified his post as minister to launch him in big time politics. Most leaders of the BJP may be opposed to Hukkeri in Belgaum and Chikkodi but not the Kattis and others from the dominant Panchamsali-Lingayat leaders, who may have entered into an understanding with him,'' say sources.