Vokkaligas rule the roost at Chamaraja

Legislators from the community are being elected since 1978

Chamaraja Assembly constituency, dominated by the Vokkaliga community, may see a fight between a father and a son contesting under different party banners.

Incumbent legislator from BJP, H S Shankarlinge Gowda who has already announced to contest the upcoming polls on Janata Dal (Secular) ticket may find his nearest rival in his son H S Nandeesh Preetham, a third time BJP corporator from ward 21.

Gowda miffed at being denied the cabinet berth by the then chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, has identified with Janata Dal (Secular). He is however yet to resign from the BJP.

It may be difficult for Nandeesh Preetham to get the party ticket, as the chairman of Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) L Nagendra is also strongly lobbying for the same.

The Congress could give the ticket to either former Mayor Vasu or former MLC D Madegowda, both strong Vokkaliga candidates. Vasu has tasted defeat twice at the hands of Shankarlinge Gowda in the polls held in 1999 and 2008.

Vokkaliga legislators have held the reins in the constituency since its emergence in the year 1978. Among them, Shankarlinge Gowda has a record of four consecutive victories to his credit from the polls held in 1994. Gowda romped home with 32,620 votes as BJP nominee in 1994 defeating C Basavegowda of Janata Dal. Gowda emerged as the undisputed leader winning subsequent elections in 1999, 2004 and 2008.

The constituency has remained with the Vokkaligas from the beginning. K Puttaswamy had successfully contested in the year 1978 as a Janata Paksha candidate.

In the subsequent elections, Vokkaligas held the reigns. H Kempegowda from Janata Paksha emerged victorious in 1983, K Kempeere Gowda won in 1985, and K Harshakumar Gowda bagged victory in 1989.

Of the total electorate of an estimated 1.98 lakh, 52,000 are Vokkaligas, followed by Brahmins - 18,000, Muslims - 14,000, Kurubas - 12,000, Lingayats and Nayakas - 10,000, each.