Mysuru: The high polling percentage in Chamarajanagar in Friday's polling for the Lok Sabha election is being seen as a positive sign by the Congress, which claims it shows it has been able to strike a chord with the people in the constituency.
Party candidate, R Druvanarayan claimed, when contacted, that the high polling percentage was a result of its organised approach to the election.
“We held workshops and meetings of party leaders and workers for six months ahead, which the BJP didn't. Besides our own developmental work, we have highlighted the party's achievements. All this points to victory,” he argued.
Congress leader, G V Seetharam too maintained that whenever the polling percentage crossed 60 per cent, it meant the Congress was leading as backward classes and all small communities had voted for it. “So we are confident of victory of Mr Dhruvanarayan,” he said.
But on the other hand, veteran politician, V Srinivasprasad, fielded by the BJP in the constituency, had no doubt he was on his way to entering parliament for the sixth time. "The response has been very good. All our partymen have worked well," he said. His supporters added that besides the Modi wave, Mr Srinivasaprasad's own popularity and caste would ensure his win.
The high percentage of voting in the rural areas of Mysuru-Kodagu constituency, is seen as a good sign by Congress candidate, C H Vijayshankar too. "There has been good polling in rural areas, and as I am from the rural belt, I am confident of victory," he declared. Mysuru district Congress president, Dr B J Vijaykumar said the party would win with a good lead in Periyapatna, Hunsur and Narasimharaja.
“The Congress-JD(S) coordination worked well, especially after the joint rallies of (former Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah and (JDS supremo) H D Deve Gowda. More than 65 per cent of the population in India is less than 35 years of age and they want a young leader like Mr Rahul Gandhi to represent them as PM,” contended another Congress leader.
But BJP candidate, Pratap Simha said he was sure of the Modi wave taking him to parliament again. "More than the margin, victory matters," he insisted. As for BJP spokesman Mahesh M G, he was confident that his party would enjoy good leads in Krishnaraja, Chamaraja, Hunsur, Madikeri and Virajpet. "Most Vokkaligas have migrated to BJP as Mr Simha is a Vokkaliga. People had made up their minds to vote for the partgy to make Mr Modi PM again,” he said.
