Date:05/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/05/stories/2008050553930400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP’s Ashok faces an acid test

Bageshree S.

Bangalore: The Padmanabhanagar Assembly constituency, carved out of the erstwhile Uttarahalli constituency, has some interesting political equations at play.

BJP candidate R. Ashok, who has won thrice from the erstwhile Uttarahalli constituency and has been the Health Minister, is pitted against two first-timers from major parties.

He is one of the important second-rung leaders in the party and is said to have handpicked this constituency to contest.

He recently moved into the area as well.

On the other hand, the area is former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda’s “family bastion” — literally the place from where the patriarch works out his election strategies. Janata Dal (S) candidate M.V. Prasad Babu (Kabaddi Babu), a sportsperson and a realtor, is hoping that this will be a factor in his favour and has been doing some hectic campaigning in the area.

The Congress, on the other hand, argues that two factors — delimitation and the total neglect of some pockets of this constituency — make the situation unpredictable.

A few areas, accounting for about 40,000 votes from what were earlier in Jayanagar and Basavanagudi, have now been shifted to Padmanabhanagar constituency. The Congress regards it its assured vote bank.

Picture of constituency

This constituency comprises Padmanabhanagar ward, Ganesha Mandira ward and Yediyur wards. Although the area from which the constituency derives its name is regarded a developed area where land rates are sky high, a closer look at the constituency profile shows that its many pockets are woefully lacking in even basic infrastructure.

Even people in prime locations complain that but for the main roads, most stretches are in a bad state. There are no adequate lung spaces in the area, which is thickly populated, they say.

The constituency also has many lower middle class and slum areas which are a picture of neglect without even basic amenities and access to healthcare. Places like Katriguppe, Ilyasnagar, Kaverinagar, Hittamandu and Umar Bagh are typical examples of this. Mosquito and dog menace is rampant here.

Congress candidate Gurappa Naidu, who holds a doctoral degree in law, and BSP candidate Balakrishna Atri, a retired Wing Commander, say there is a great deal of resentment in these pockets about “the Health Minister who did not come to their aid.” This discontent, they believe, may also play a role in the way votes swing.