Added areas are Achladi, Bannadi, Vadderse, Kavadi, Giliyaru, Manuru, Kotathattu, Sligrama Pattana Panchayath, Yedathadi, Heradi, Heggunje, 33 Shiroor, Kadur, Nadur Hanehalli, Kachchuru, Hosala, Mudahadu, Pandeshwara, Irodi, Balkudru and Kodi.

Deleted areas are 74 Ullur, Siddapur, Machchattu, Kulange, Shankaranarayan, Amparu, Kavradi, Halnadu, Gangolli and Hosangadi.

Kundapur has a total of 1,56,429 voters and 178 polling booths. Unlike other constituencies of the district, Kundapur has maximum number of minority voters and the election result may resolute the caste issue along with the percentage of voting.

Congress has pitched former minister and Independent MLA from Brahmavar Jayprakash Hegde as its candidate against BJP’s former MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty. Mr Hegde who is alien to Kundapur has to work hard despite the fact that the maximum addition of areas to Kundapur with the dissolution of Brahmavar constituency might not subsist of any major help.

It is not an uncomplicated mission either for Mr Srinivas Shetty as he has to come across the hurdles in newly added areas who hope to wrap up the success for the third consecutive term. Replacing BJP dominated areas like Gangolli, Siddapur and Shankaranarayan to Baindoor has been a big disadvantage to BJP and may have its own impact on poll results.

Extensive door to door campaigning by both the sides has diffused the possibilities to rule out any miracles in post poll scenario.

Constituency history
Glancing at the political history of the constituency may add more stuff to pare with an idea as to whom the people of Kundapur wreath the favor. From 1983 to 1999 the constituency was a strong suit of Congress under the leadership of K Prathpchandra Shetty who represented the constituency in 1983-85, 85-89, 89-94 and 94-99.
Even before 1983, the Congress was the most liked party witnessing only affirmative results. Sadly, the Congress had to taste its first defeat as Shetty’s close associate and second cousin Haladi Srinivas Shetty contested against him and hugged BJP to recognise himself as the party’s candidate in the 1999 assembly polls. Haladi was an acknowledged leader emerged out of the charisma of poor masses. More than the BJP, it was his personal charm that lured the people to go against their compliance to the Congress. Again in 2004 polls, the success was wrapped up by Haladi Srinivas Shetty.

Congress has fielded the best possible candidate against Mr Shetty. Mr Jayprakash Hegde is also a matured politician clinching the victory constantly three times, two times as an Independent candidate and once as a Janatha Dal candidate in former Brahmavar constituency.

The constituency holds majority of Bunts population which can be a positive factor for Srinivas Shetty. Influence of Communists within the town cannot be ignored, but it can be only limited to factuality.

JD(S) is vaguely weak in the area when compared to these two parties who has fielded its candidate Manjunath in the constituency against these two aspirants. Kundapur Taluk Panchayath areas have been dappled between Byndoor and Kundapur assembly region. There are 35 members in Kundapur Taluk Panchayath out of which 24 are from Congress and 11 members are from BJP.

BJP has more authority in Zilla Panchayath areas like Kota and Haladi and Mandarthi where as Basrur and Koteshwara is dominated by Congress. Going through the majority power in all the three local tier governance except Taluk Panchayath where Congress has a strong hold, the other two Zilla Panchayath and Gram Panchayath has proved to be a strong area of BJP. During 2004 assembly polls, Haladi Srinivas Shetty had superseded his Congress rival Ashok Kumar Hegde by 19,665 votes.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Congress candidate Jayprakash Hegde said: “I am more confident and hopeful of winning; people here are now talking about the candidate’s performances not only in the constituency but also who can deliver their problems effectively in the assembly floor.”

Reacting to a query regarding his unfamiliarity to the majority areas in the constituency, Mr Hegde said: “Even though my political life settled in Brahmavar, my home constituency is Kundapur, I don’t find any strange factor involved. I am a voter here.”

Mr Hegde also said that he would convince the voters rather than assuring fake promises and informed that he is deeply involved in confidence building measures with the people of the constituency.

BJP hope Haladi Srinivas Shetty told Deccan herald “Kundapur is the most developed constituency when compared to other constituencies in the district for the last few years and my developmental programmes like Pradhan Manthri Gram Sadak Yojana, English medium school, hostels for underprivileged and so on in the constituency are more than enough to convince people and I don’t find any negative aspect of loosing instead I am over confident.”

Beaming with over confidence may prove fatal for any one of these two, as both have adopted their own way to woo the voters and now the responsibility to design the post poll scenario depends on the people of the constituency as to whom they would prefer to mark their presence until the next assembly polls.