With the Chief Minister all set to go for cabinet expansion during the month end, the district is pinning lot of hopes of seeing at least one of the local MLAs finding place in the cabinet berth.

The district has five Assembly constituencies and barring Karkala, the voters have made BJP candidates taste victory.

Dr V S Acharya, who was one of the top brasses of state BJP hailed from Udupi and he had held some of the most powerful portfolios including that of Home and Medical Education.

He had been successful in getting adequate funds for the development of the district as well. His death has created a void and this time the people from the district are waiting to see another person represent the district in the Assembly.

Difference

It is a normal scene to see MLAs vie for the cabinet post before the expansion is announced. Surprisingly, the scene in Udupi is different. Udupi MLA K Raghupathi Bhat, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon and Baindoor MLA K Lakshminarayana have been vocal about their unanimous decision that if the district gets representation in the state cabinet then Kundapur MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty must be given a chance.

When asked if they are not aspiring to get ministerial berth, all three say that as Shetty is senior and more experienced when compared to them, he deserves to get a chance. Further, Bhat himself has rejected the talks that he is going to get ministerial berth this time.

“I am not an aspirant for the post. After having been elected as the MLA from BJP ticket thrice, Shetty is truly an asset for the party. The BJP will be in power for one more year and I see more work left to be done by me here in Udupi. My constituency is my priority as of now,” said Bhat

Endorsing views of Bhat, even Lalaji Mendon confirmed that Shetty will be their unanimous choice for ministerial berth without any differences.

Lakshminarayana too said that all the MLAs from Udupi district will propose Shetty’s name but the ultimate decision is left up to the CM.

With this healthy and friendly atmosphere existing in Udupi district as far as political scenario is concerned, one has to wait and watch if Shetty will make it to the Cabinet or one of his supporting MLAs will climb the stairs of Vidhana Soudha.