It's veteran vs political novice in Belthangady

 Belthangady constituency that boasts of having contributed a finance minister, assembly speaker, minister for youth affairs and sports and a chief whip to the State, has played quite a significant role in the Karnataka politics.

The well-known political battle between Bangera brothers, decades old political rivalry between Bangera and Gowda families, party hopping leaders are some of the features of politics in Belthangady.

As the D-day is fast approaching, Belthangady constituency is all set to face yet another political battle, this time between a youngster and a veteran politician. If the Congress has fielded four time MLA/sitting MLA K Vasanth Bangera, the BJP has taken the ‘risk’ of fielding a fresher Ranjan Gowda, who is less than half his age, to fight the elections. The fight seems more interesting, for Bangera is facing Ranjan Gowda who happens to be the son of his long time political rival Gangadhar Gowda.

Political history

A quick look at the political history of Belthangady constituency unfurls an exciting political journey. Of the 14 assembly elections that Belthangady constituency has witnessed so far, the Congress has won nine elections, the BJP has savoured the victory four times, while the JD(S) has won the seat only once.

Since the very first election in 1952, Belthangady remained as a strong fort of the Congress till 1978. The Congress won the polls seven consecutive times and this strong fort was then broken by Vasanth Bangera in 1983, who won the election as the BJP candidate against sitting MLA from Congress K Gangadhar Gowda, thus paying way for the BJP to gain entry into Belthangady politics.

Bangera won the next election too as a BJP candidate. However, he quit Congress and contested as the JD(S) candidate in the next assembly election where he was defeated by Gangadhar Gowda from Congress. The subsequent election in 1994 witnessed a tough fight between Bangera and Gowda, wherein Bangera won thus helping the JD(S) to win the seat in Belthangady. But, the election opened a new chapter of family politics between Vasanth Bangera and his brother K Prabhakar Bangera who for the first time contested as a BJP candidate.

In the very next election Prabhakar Bangera emerged victorious defeating both the former MLAs - Vasanth Bangera and Gangadhar Gowda. He succeeded to win for the second time in 2004 election too. The last assembly election (2008) created curiosity, as by then Vasanth Bangera had joined the Congress and Gangadhar Gowda had shifted his loyalty from the Congress to the JD(S). Vasanth Bangera succeeded to defeat his younger brother and Gangadhar Gowda, winning the seat for Congress.

The big fight

This time the table has turned again, as Gangadhar Gowda’s (who quit JD(S) and joined the BJP) son Ranjan Gowda will fight it out against his father’s political rival Vasanth Bangera. With it, the 30-year-old political rivalry has revived once again. The candidates and workers in both the camps are busy calculating and chalking out winning strategies.

The BJP is trying to cash in on the age factor and poor health of Vasanth Bangera who is now in his late 60s. “Ranjan Gowda is an active BJP member who has served as the President of BJP Yuva Morcha. Apart from the BJP votes and votes from his father’s supporters, he has the capacity to draw votes largely from the youth. Vasanth Bangera has not worked for the constituency during the last five years mainly for his health reasons. So, it is the time, Belthangady needs a fresh face,” taluk BJP media head U Prabhakar Shetty told Deccan Herald.

On the other hand, in the Congress camp, the party workers are confident of Bangera’s victory. Bangera’s close aide and retired DySP Peethambara Heraje is quick in showing the campaigning Bangera and asks, “he is so actively taking part in the election campaign for last 15 days. How can anybody say he is not capable of working?” Further he adds that people know the contribution of Bangera for the development of the constituency. The party votes and personal votes will help him win.

Though Belthangady constituency has in the past witnessed triangular contests, this time the fight appears to be directly between Bangera and Gowda. JD(S) candidate and former ZP vice-president Rajashri S Hegde too is trying her luck for the first time in this election.
Billavas would emerge as decision makers in the election as the constituency has highest number of Billava voters (48,000) followed by Vokkaligas (43,000) and Muslims (25,000).

No dearth for issues

Belthangady constituency consists of Belthangady taluk with highest number of villages (81) compared to all other constituencies in Dakshina Kannada district. There is no dearth for problems in Belthangady, be it the Maoists issue, endosulfan agony, rehabilitation of tribals from Kuduremukh National Park, the taluk has it all.

Maoists frequent visits to the villages, exchange of fire between ANF and Maosists, combing operations are a cause of concern for the villagers in some parts of the taluk. For the residents of Yelaneeru, Bangarpalke, Badamane, Kuthlur, Naavur, Naaravi, Sulkeri, Mogru, Malavanthige and Shirlalu villages, the issue of rehabilitation is a matter of worry. The government has not yet implemented a comprehensive plan and package for either rehabilitation of families from KNP or for providing them the basic amenities within the forest. The long pending demands have only gone in-vain, irrespective of the political party which is in power.

Endosulfan is yet another issue plaguing the residents of Kokkada, Patrame and Nidle villages. Over 200 endosulfan-affected families are demanding for a rehabilitation and compensation package based on the Kerala model.

Apart from it, there are problems pertaining to delay in title deed distribution, government land encroachment by rich class, interior road development, transportation etc.

Though people appreciate the work of Vasanth Bangera towards the development of the constituency, during his youthful days, the clouds of doubt cast over his capability now.
Bangera had defeated his brother with the highest margin of votes when compared to all other constituencies of the district, in the last assembly election. Though this time the curtains are down for politics between brothers, the decade old political rivalry between two families has revived, making one wonder where will it lead to.