Battle with few warriors

Friends turn rivals in Holur Zilla Panchayat constituency

That number is the highest for any ZP constituency in the district.

But the real contest is only among a few. This constituency is a matter of pride for both Minister K H Muniyappa and former minister K Shrinivasa Gowda, who are staunch political rivals.

A strong supporter of Shrinivasa Gowda, S B Munivenkatappa of the Janata Dal (Secular), Congress candidate Y G Ravikumar, H V Shivappa from the BJP, independent candidates - S Ramachandraiah, M Anjanappa, Jayaramappa, K V Devaraj, H V Manjunath and Venkataramappa are in the fray.

A matter of prestige

Munivenkatappa belongs to Somasandra, while Kuduvanahalli is the native of Shrinivasgowda. Since, both the areas come under the same Panchayat constituency, it has become a matter of prestige for both the leaders.

Both, Munivenkatappa and Shrinivasgowda are rivals of Muniyappa. Munivenkatappa had contested from the same constituency earlier for the Zilla Panchayat elections.

He is better acquainted with the constituency than the others. But his greatest minus point is the fact that he failed to maintain close ties with the constituency, after the completion of his term.

Friends to rivals

The irony of Holur constituency is the fact that when Munivenkatappa was in the Congress, Y G Ravikumar was his close associate. Today, Munivekatappa is facing Ravikumar in the Panchayat polls.

He was the member of Yalavar Gram Panchayat and he joined the Taluk Panchayat in 1995. When Munivenkatappa contested from the Congress, Ravikumar had struggled for his victory.

“The Congress has always had a strong hold in Holur constituency. I am now a member of the Congress party. The dissatisfaction prevailing among the people over the performance of Muniventakatappa is going to be my reason for victory in the Panchayat elections,” says Ravikumar.

An opportunity

“I am not facing any stiff competition. I do not consider anybody as my rival. I expect that people will vote for me irrespective of attaching importance to party, caste or emotions. I have earned a good name in the villages.

“Having joined the JD()S along with Shrinivasgowda had given me an opportunity to contest in the Panchayat elections. I am sure of winning the polls,” Munivenkatappa expressed.

The Holur constituency has set up a platform to stage the battle between the two friends. Munivenkatappa strongly believes that there is no competition at all in his turf, while BJP’s Shivappa is all set to bank on the schemes and programmes of the BJP government.

An optimistic Ravikumar is ready to face the polls, with support from Minister K H Muniyappa.

Different battle

Though one cannot rule out a triangular contest between the Congress, the JD(S) and the BJP, however, the battle is more stronger between the Congress and the JD(S).

 In the given situation, the remaining five independents are not making any noise. However, there is no definite information on MLA Varthur Prakash’s support to independent candidate Venkataramappa, whose symbol is rising sun.

People are curious to know what role the MLA will play in this election.