The Hindu : Keen contest between Kanta, Namoshi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 22, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Keen contest between Kanta, Namoshi

By T.V. Sivanandan

GULBARGA June 21. It is a do or die battle for the Janata Parivar candidate and former minister, S.K. Kanta, and the sitting BJP MLC, Shashil G. Namoshi, in the crucial election to the Legislative Council from the North-east Teachers' Constituency which goes to the polls on Sunday.

The Congress, which has not won the seat even once, is, for the first time, making a serious attempt to capture the seat. One of its major assets, despite drawing the ire of teachers through several of its actions, is its soft-spoken candidate, Basavaraj Patil Asture, who commands respect among a section of the teachers.

The high-pitched campaign by the three major political parties — BJP, Janata Parivar, and Congress — in the constituency spread over Gulbarga, Bidar, Bellary, Raichur, and Koppal districts, and Harpanalli taluk in Davangere District, was one of the highlights of the electioneering this time.

Senior leaders such as the former Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, the former ministers, P.G.R. Sindhia, M.P. Prakash, Manogoli, the Deputy Chairman of the Council, David Simeon, and the former Deputy Chairman of the Council, B.R. Patil, were among those who campaigned for the Janata Parivar candidate, Mr. Kanta.

Three senior ministers — Mallikarjun Kharge, Dharam Singh, and Qamar-ul-Islam — led the charge for the Congress. The BJP State unit President, Basavaraj Patil Sedam, the Vice-President, M.R. Tanga, and B.S. Yediyurappa, MLC, were some of those who actively campaigned for the BJP candidate, Mr. Namoshi.

Although the BJP has a clear advantage in the election due to various factors, including Mr. Namoshi getting a head start in the campaign (Mr. Namoshi began his campaign six months ago and has completed five tours of the constituency), the sympathy factor appears to be working in favour of Mr. Kanta and the Janata Parivar campaign managers capitalised on this to the hilt.

This election is turning out to be a repeat of the contest between the two in the Assembly election from the Gulbarga city constituency in 1994 which was ultimately won by Mr. Qamar-ul-Islam as an Indian National League nominee.

Mr. Namoshi, a new entrant to the BJP then, shocked the political pundits by his impressive performance, pushing Mr. Kanta to third place.

The major issues raised during the campaign were the failure of the present government to protect the interests of teachers.

Although there are five other candidates, including the BSP-supported candidate, Urukundappa, in the field, the contest appears to be between Mr. Namoshi, Mr. Kanta, and Mr. Asture.

Among the independents, the four-time Syndicate member, V.B. Karaddy, and H.R. Patil and Subhas M. Patil are making a serious bid to reverse the trend of non-teachers being elected from the constituency.

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