Ballari seat: Congress, BJP just can’t decide choices
It has become a difficult task for both the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP
Ballari: The selection of candidates for the Legislative Council elections from the local governing bodies constituency in Ballari has become a difficult task for both the ruling Congress party and the opposition BJP.
The BJP has announced its candidates for the Council elections except for Ballari constituency which includes nine assembly constituencies in the district and Harapanahalli assembly constituency in neighbouring Davanagere too. The party seems to be waiting the announcement of the candidate by the Congress. Ballari seat is presently represented by BJP MLC Mruthyunjaya Jinaga who has sought a second term. Even before the announcement of the party’s official candidate, ticket aspirants of the ruling Congress are already in election mode and are going all out to woo voters comprising members of the urban and rural governing bodies.
The Congress high command may find it hard to choose a consensus candidate as every aspirant feels this election is crucial for his political survival. Besides, the Congress state leadership yet to arrive at a consensus on candidate selection. Congress has a list of ticket aspirants that include former MLC and former Lok Sabha member Mr K.C. Kondaiah, former ministers Allum Veerabhadrappa, M Diwakar Babu, former MLA Mr N Suryanarayana Reddy and senior leader Hothur Mohammed Iqbal.
Political circles are abuzz with reports that JD(S) may extend its support in case Congress fields Mr Narayan Reddy or Mr Iqbal. Fierce competition for the party ticket and internal rivalry in the Congress is likely to dampen the prospects of the party’s candidate and help the rival.
Hinting at the candidature of former MLC and Lok Sabha member K.C. Kondaiah from Ballari recently at Hadagali, minister for rural development and panchayat raj Mr H.K. Patil lauded Mr Kondaiah for being instrumental in securing voting power for GP members in council election through an amendment in the Panchayat Raj Act in 1996. It is believed that the BJP may field a Lingayat candidate like in 2009 as this dominant community has no political representation in the district where majority of the assembly and Lok Sabha seats are reserved for scheduled tribes and castes.
However, the backing of BJP Lok Sabha member and Valmiki leader Mr B. Sriramulu is important for the Lingayat candidate to win the elections. The BJP is likely to field a candidate of stature who can give a fitting fight to the Congress nominee.
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