When the Congress party announced its list of candidates for the forthcoming elections to the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), what was heard in chorus was: “It’s opposition leader Siddaramaiah’s show all the way”.

Upset workers who had associated with the party for long and incumbent office-bearers of the district committee are now contesting as independents. Some, not daring to voice against the leadership, are indulged in spewing venom, albeit discreetly.

For example; Congress leaders Raju, Arun, Revanna, Bhaskar and Shailendra were the aspirants from ward nine. They had gone in a delegation to meet party observer for the polls Sageer Ahmed and Mysore-Kodagu MP A H Vishwanath. The said five aspirants had also promised to work for the victory of the candidate whosoever was selected among them. 

To their shock, it was sitting corporator Prabhumurthy of Janata Dal (Secular) who was selected.

The ward is one among several wards coming under Krishnaraja Assembly segment.
Former MLA M K Somashekar, who is likely to contest the forthcoming Assembly polls as Congress nominee had influenced his mentor Siddaramaiah to favour Prabhumurthy, a Dalit and localite at Ashokapuram. Somashekar, who had to lose the previous polls to BJP minister S A Ramdas, is keen on playing all cards, only to ensure his victory.

Not benefitted

Interestingly, in a contrasting situation, Nagaraj K of ward seven who is the president of wards 11 and 12 of Krishnaraja Assembly constituency, aspiring a ticket from ward seven could not be benefitted. What has added to his ire is, despite being the president of M K Somashekar Fans Association, nothing could tilt in his favour. Now, he is contesting as an independent.

Similar is the story of district Congress committee secretary Kabir, whose efforts to win over the faith of higher ups failed. He was keen on taking a plunge from ward 53, but Aftab Anwar Baig, who had previously won on the party ticket has been fielded again.

Other district committee members Khadar and Akhila Bhanu too are contesting as independents from wards 45 and 59 respectively.

What has taken the party workers by surprise is the fielding of artiste Badal Nanjundaswamy from ward 20. Congress leader L Bhaskar had been a strong contender, but Badal who had filed his nomination as independent has emerged lucky.

Vanaja Bheemaiah who was with Congress till Friday, has been given ticket by BJP to contest the polls from ward 15.

Independent corporators in the past council Pushpalatha Jagannath (ward 37), Hasrathulla (49) and Sunand Kumar (39) who supported Congress and JD(S) combine, have been deserted. Their efforts to get Congress ticket has failed and are in the fray as independents again.

Fairoz Khan, who had unsuccessfully contested on Congress ticket from ward 58 is now a Janata Dal (Secular) nominee. A novice Bhagyavathi has been chosen over the past mayor M C Rajeshwari at ward 23.