Women poised to fight it out in Davangere

That a total of 81 women are in fray for 34 Zilla Panchayat constituencies and 219 women candidates for 120 Taluk Panchayat constituencies in the district speaks volumes on the impact of the new reservation rule. Members in the last ZP and TPs who lost their seats due to the reservation seem to have accepted the reality and are campaigning to elect women candidates belonging to their parties.

The Congress and the BJP have fielded four women candidate each for the six ZP constituencies in Davangere and Harapanahalli taluks; two each are contesting for the five seats in Jagalur taluk and five each in Channagiri taluk. The number is four in Honnali taluk. The JD(S) has given ticket to 17 women candidates.

A tussle has ensued in the election with women from the families of well-known politicians entering fray. Thus, it is Lata T Patel (wife of Tejaswi Patel - son of former chief minister J H Patel) against Sudha of BJP in Hosakere of Channagiri taluk. A direct contest has ensued between Sudha Veerendra, daughter of minister S A Ravindranath and Prema of Congress in Hadadi.

Welcoming the new development, Nagaratnamma, former president of the ZP, said women, hitherto confined to four walls, could now venture into social service through politics.

“The enhanced reservation will certainly bring down corruption and defection. It is also an opportunity for women to prove their ability,” said District Mahila Congress president Pushpa.

Campaigning has picked up for the poll in the district, known as the Congress bastion in Central Karnataka. Of the total 34 ZP seats, Congress bagged 23 in the year 2005. The party got a shot in the arm with former deputy chief minister M P Prakash and former MLA Mahima Patel joining it.

Except losing Honnali Taluk Panchayat to BJP following Operation Kamala, the Congress completed its term in ZP effortless. However, the picture has undergone a sea change now. The BJP has established itself in Assembly and Corporation polls. The Congress is now facing ‘perform or perish’ challenge.

On the other hand, it is also impossible for the JD(S) to maintain its performance in the absence of leaders such as M P Prakash and Mahima Patel.