Congress gives equal opportunity to youngsters, seniors in Karnataka polls

Mangaluru: The Congress party's decision to field young and fresh faces alongside experienced veterans has infused a wave of enthusiasm in the cadre in Coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

On Saturday, Congress released its first list of 124 candidates in Karnataka.
Of the 13 assembly constituencies in DK and Udupi districts, the Congress party has announced its candidates for seven, including three new faces.

Rakshith Shivaram, an advocate, son of retired IPS officer BK Shivaram and nephew of senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad, has been fielded from the Belthangady constituency, becoming the first young candidate to be fielded from there since 1978. Rakshit is in his mid-30s.

KPCC office bearer Mithun Rai, who lost the 2019 Parliament elections to BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel in Dakshina Kannada, has been named as the party's candidate from Moodabidri. He is also about 38 years old.

Kundapur candidate Dinesh Hegde and Sullia candidate Krishnappa are also first-timers, both in their 50s and active in their respective blocks.

While the Congress has brought in new faces, it has also decided to field senior leaders in the upcoming elections.

The party has also decided to field some of its senior leaders, including Deputy leader of the opposition in Assembly and former Minister UT Khader, who will contest for the fifth consecutive time from Mangalore constituency. Khader has been representing this constituency since 2007. Former minister and six-time MLA from Bantwal, Ramanath Rai, has been named as the candidate for Bantwal. Three-time MLA Gopal Poojary will be the party's candidate from Byndoor, and three-time MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake, who had also served as Udupi MP in the past, will fight for the party from Kaup constituency.
Rai, Sorake, and Poojary were defeated in the 2018 election.

The decision to field a mix of young and experienced candidates has been well-received by party members, who see it as an opportunity to build a strong second line of leadership. This move is also expected to give Congress an edge in the Coastal regions, where the party currently holds only one seat each in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

According to KPCC vice president PV Mohan, the first list has clearly shown that the party gives importance to youngsters and seniors. "In Coastal Karnataka, this will help the party in gaining seats," Mohan told Deccan Chronicle.

"The decision to field young candidates will help in building a second line of leadership," UT Khader said.