Campaigning hots up in Bangarpet constituency

BJP’s M Narayanaswamy has a clear edge over others in campagining as he has filed his papers first.

He began his electioneering after offering pooja at Mariamma Temple in his hometown Belaganahalli. However, he has limited his campaigning mailny to villages. Except for the nomination filing day he has not come out in the open so far.

M Narayanaswamy is a veteran in electoral politics. He has already faced six elections and mastered the art of campaigning. This has helped him win over the voters, specially in rural areas.

The Congress candidate K M Narayanaswamy has been playing the role of king maker so far. However, this time he himself is the candidate. His is a ‘One man army’ for all practical purposes, even though he represents a big party like the Congress. His main rival M Narayanaswamy has an advantage mainly because he joined the BJP after working in the Congress and the JD(S). For K M Narayanaswamy, everything seems new. Many of his party colleagues have joined other parties. Hence he has an added responsibility of building the party from the scratches.

However, he has succeeded in bringing back most of the workers. The JD(S) candidate C Venkateshappa’s problems are entirley different. Except for a single Taluk Panchayat seat, the party is almost non-existent here. Some of its trusted lieutenants like M S Anand and Munimarappa are not with the party now. Another leader Sri Krishna has become inactive for some strange reasons. The pary is seriously looking for some second level leaders to work for the party in the byelections. This has forced Venkateshappa to meet the voters in person.

However, the JD(S) is in a great position when compared to the JD(U). The JD(U) has absolutely no presence in this constituency and has no leaders to support it. People do not even take its candidate Ravikumar seriously when he comes seeking votes.

14 in fray in Bangarpet

After scrutinising 21 nominaton papers submitted by 15 candidates for the by-election, 14 candidates are in fray independent candidate C B K Ram’s nomination paper has been rejected.

JD(S) candidate C Venkateshappa  had submitted two nominations. Although one of his nomination papers was rejected, another nomination was accepted. However, independent candidate Rama had failed to get the required number of proposers for his nomination, said election officer Syed Nilofer Zabin.

Candidates have already geared up to campaign in the taluk.