JOIN USThe candidates fielded by all the four major political parties are turncoats and three of them are trying to re-enter the Vidhana Soudha this time on different party tickets. Cop-turned- politician Subhash Bharani, recently quit the BJP, and is trying his luck on a BSP ticket from this constituency, more famous for cloth, silk, and granite.
This constituency comprises Santhemarahalli hobli of Chamarajanagar taluk, all the villages of Yalandur taluk and a few villages of Kollegal taluk.
The bypoll has been necessitated following election of D Dharuvanarayan to the Lok Sabha from Chamarajanagar constituency. A Deccan Herald correspondent, who toured the constituency, found that there was a keen contest.
Some political leaders point out that the BJP seems to have a slight edge as that the party is likely to be benefited by the multi-cornered contest as there would be division of the secular votes. However, the party is facing a sort of revolt as supporters of A R Krishnamurthy, who unsuccessfully contested on a BJP ticket from Chamarajnagar parliamentary constituency, have not been actively campaigning for BJP nominee G N Nanjundaswamy, who is better known as GNN. Nanjundaswamy had been elected on Congress ticket in the 1999 Assembly polls. GNN, a follower of Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, had joined the BJP after he was denied a ticket to contest the Assembly polls in 2008.
JD(S) candidate S Balaraj, who had won 2004 elections as an independent, is heavily banking on the programmes launched by former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy's government for his success. The Congress has fielded former MLA S Jayanna, a staunch follower of Siddaramaiah, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. Jayanna had won the elections in 1994 on a JD(S) candidate.
Dalits constitute about 25 per cent and the votes are likely to be split among all the four candidates in this reserved constituency. Lingayats constitute about 18 per cent of total voters.
Nayakas and Upparas (with about 16 per cent of total voters each) may play a decisive role. Kurubas (around 10 per cent) and other backward communities like Devangas and minorities are spread along the constituency.
The non- implementation of Kabini second phase, irregularities in distribution of ration cards, poor maintenance of roads and drinking water problems are the major issues in the campaigning.
* Total: 1,83,019
* Male voters: 93,386.
* Female voters: 89,633
* Polling booths:197