Hassan: While women candidates haven't had much success in contesting and winning assembly polls from Hassan, Congress candidate, Keerthana, wife of the late MLA, Rudreshgowda of Belur, has dared to go against the trend and try her luck these elections.
The Congress decided to field Mrs Keethana from Belur after the death of her husband, hoping to cash in on the sympathy votes as Mr Rudreshgowda had a good rapport with the voters of the constituency, which he represented both in 2008 and 2013.
Going by sources , the fact that the late MLA's father, Nanjegowda, was a philanthropist and had donated land for welfare programmes, could also help Ms Keerthana as the people haven't forgotten his selfless work for them.
A Vokkaliga, she is up against JD(S) candidate, Lingesh who was a runner-up in the 2013 poll. A Lingayat, Mr Linkesh stands a good chance of winning as they are in majority in the constituency followed by Vokkaligas. Her other opponent is industrialist, Hullahalli Suresh of the BJP. A Vokkaliga, he unsuccessfully contested the 2008 election from Hassan , and this time around is trying his luck from Belur.
Although the BJP has not won from Belur in recent years, its last win from here being in 1994, its party workers are campaigning hard to ensure it defeats the Congress this time.
