Apart from sharing the forest ranges of Rajiv Gandhi National Park in its’ limits, Hunsur and H D Kote Assembly constituencies share few other similarities. Prominent among them is the drinking water problem.
Shortage of electricity, which has affected the whole State, is also a major problem for the population here.
The constituencies feature prominently in issues relating to man-animal conflict. Adivasi population, living close to the forests are yet to be distributed with title deeds and “development” of areas where the tribals have been rehabilitated is yet to take shape. Another poll a week away, and in a run up to the elections, candidates are leaving no stone unturned to appease the voters.
H D Kote constituency has a dubious distinction of having three reservoirs -- Kabini, Nugu and Taraka in its limits. Ironically it is one of the most water starved regions in Mysore district.
The condition of roads in the H D Kote town centre itself clearly depicts the backwardness of the constituency. The villages are so ‘rural’ that there are no KSRTC buses to reach them.
Hunsur has a mix of woes of welfare. Being a prominent contributor for agricultural produce in the district, complaints on the need of a permanent market for agricultural products, have fallen on deaf ears.
Here too, development has become the asset of a few, while the rest have been deluded into and eluded out of ‘development’.
In both the constituencies, population living at the edge of the forests are yet to receive title deeds.
Installation of solar fence at the edges of the National Park to keep wild animals away from human habitat has run into rough weather, owing to inferior quality of work. Works on the project of digging trenches along the edges of the Park too have been hit.
Roads though exceptional in few regions, a majority roads in both constituencies are pockmarked with potholes.
Promise and Progress
Progress in the constituencies have been few and far between. Parts of Hunsur constituency are being provided with regular water supply from Cauvery. Under National Rural Drinking Water Scheme, about 150 villages are to be supplied with drinking water.
There are no institutions of higher learning in both the constituencies, apart from a Government Degree College in H D Kote and Government Girls College in Hunsur, which was completed recently. Another feather in Hunsur’s cap, was the installation of an effigy of Devaraj Urs. A few roads too, completed recently have been of benefit here.
Community Conservation and Development programme and Tribal Sub-plan too have helped in providing basic amenities to tribals.
Politics and Demographics
Even though caste politics plays a major role in the outcome of elections in the region, candidate profile too has been of significance recently.
The ‘Siddaramaiah wave’ is also considered a major factor in the district. However, H D Kote is spared of the wave.
H D Kote constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, has four candidates from Nayaka community contesting the elections; Chikkanna from Congress, Chikkamadu from JD(S), Siddaraju from BJP and H V Krishnaswamy from KJP.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has fielded Gopal Pujar, a Jenu Kuruba, who is considered to be a dark horse.
Initial responses to campaigns of candidates has put Chikkamadu -- district JD(S) president and Siddaraju, MLC and district BJP president, as close competitors.
Gopal Pujar from BSP is assured of votes from Adivasi communities such as Jenu Kuruba and Kadu Kuruba votes, as he is an Adivasi. A swing of votes from Vokkaliga, Lingayat and other minority communities can well tip the scale in his favour.
Following G T Devegowda’s decision to contest from Chamundeshwari constituency, the JD(S) had to encounter rebellion within the party before it could select a candidate for Hunsur constituency.
A split in the JD(S) in Hunsur, has attracted the attention of JD(S) stalwarts H D Devegowda and H D Kumarswamy, who have given special focus to this constituency during the election season.
While the JD(S) has a new face Kumaraswamy as its candidate, C T Rajanna, Independent candidate who had rebelled from JD(S) is said to eat into the votes of the regional party.
This split will favour sitting MLA and Congress candidate from Hunsur, H P Manjunath. Though the region has fair population of Vokkaligas, Kurubas and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, votes of SC/ST’s are said to be crucial.
