A tale of two traditional rivals

Since 1983, Venkatashiva Reddy and Ramesh Kumar have been winning the alternate elections

Surprising, as it might sound, but political parties hardy matter in the Srinivaspur Assembly constituency in the district. Instead, it is the charisma and calibre of the candidates that really matters.

In the taluk, known for the cultivation of mangoes, particular the famous Mallika variety, the reputation or the dominance of political parties fails to strike a chord with the people.

For over 30 years now, the taluk politics has been dominated by two highly influential people— G K Venkatashiva Reddy and K R Ramesh Kumar. Strangely, the two have been winning the Assembly election alternately, with no scope for other candidates.

The voters of the taluk have always voted for the duo, irrespective of their party affiliations. The leaders have dwarfed the existence of political parties. In the past 7 elections, the duo have been winning the seats alternately on a regular basis.

Strangely, many times the two leaders have swapped the parties represented by each other. In spite of this, there is no break in their winning streak.

The political rivalry between Reddy and Kumar dates back to 1983. However, the conditions and situations have since then changed drastically. Reddy, then contested on a Congress ticket and won the election. Today, he is the district unit president of JD(S).

Kumar who was then a independent, went on to win the next election on Janata Parivar ticket.

Today, Kumar, a influential leader in Congress, is the party’s candidate for the taluk and his candidature being unopposed.

In the year 2004, Reddy joined BJP after failing get ticket from Congress but was defeated in the election. At the same time Kumar contested on Congress ticket and won the election.

Of the seven elections held since 1983, Congress has been voted to power four times. In fact Congress has the rare distinction of winning two consecutive elections but with two different candidates.

Bastion

Traditionally, Srinivaspur has been a Congress bastion. Srinivaspur, which was earlier part of the Mulbagal, which had two members, was separated and made into a  constituency in 1962 . That year Congress’s G Narayana Gowda won the election. Since then Congress has a toe hold. But the then Janata Parivar managed to give stiff competition to the Congress.

Though Congress, as a party has its presence, it is dependent on the charisma of the two leaders.

The Congress and Janata parties have had to face many awkward situations due to the swamping of the parties by the two leaders. If at one point of time, Congress/Janata parties workers were campaigning against Reddy/Kumar, in the next election they would be canvassing for the victory of Kumar/Reddy.

The contest between the two had always been intense. In the 1983 election, Reddy managed to win the polls by a wafer thin margin of 642 votes.

In 1985, Kumar defeated Reddy with more than 6,000 votes. Reddy bounced back and defeated Kumar in the 1989 election with more than 9,000 votes. However, Kumar hit back at Reddy and defeated him with more than 8,000 votes in 2004 election. But Congress party has the distinction of defeating its rival with highest margin who ever the candidate might be.

Going by the result pattern of the last seven elections, Kumar is poised to win the election.

However, one has to wait and watch what would be the result of the 2013 election.