This constituency pitches a veteran former minister against one of the richest candidates in this election from the Congress, who is determined to bag the seat for the third time.
The incumbent Priyakrishna’s father and housing minister M Krishnappa is also seeking a third term from the neighbouring Vijayanagar constituency. But the son faces a determined BJP veteran V Somanna, vowing to avenge his defeat in the hands of Krishnappa in 2013.
After his 2013 loss, Somanna swapped seats with his saffron colleague H Ravindra — who lost to Priyakrishna in Govindaraja Nagar in 2013.
A popular politician in the area who remained undefeated in the erstwhile Binnypet Assembly segment before the delimitation, Somanna had also lost to Priyakrishna in the 2009 byelections by 58,937 votes.
Like Vijayanagar, Govindaraja Nagar is also dominated by Vokkaligas, followed by Muslims, Lingayats and others.
The JD(S) replaced its candidate M Umashankar with A Nagendraprasad in the last minute. Umashankar is now contesting here as an independent. Reports say that the JD(S) has a soft corner for Priyakrishna and is not aiming to wrest the seat from the Congress.
“I sowed the seeds whose benefits the father-son duo is reaping now. Still, people know me here and they come to get their problems solved,” Somanna, now an MLC, said, indicating that he is prepared to bounce back.
‘Don’t see competition’
But Priyakrishna sees no competition. “History speaks for itself. People continue to trust me and that is why I’m sticking to this constituency, while my rivals go about switching theirs,” he said.
People say the constituency has seen remarkable improvement in civic amenities in the wake of the elections. Roads have been asphalted, water supply restored, drains sealed and water dispensers put up in all the nine wards.
“We don’t care if this is the result of competition, fear or show of strength so far as our requirements are met,” said Rajendra, a resident of Maruthi Mandir.
Better things to come
While similar opinions are expressed by the residents of Nagarbhavi, a developing locality with a large migrant population, those in Nayandahalli and Agara Dasarahalli still hope for better facilities.
