JOIN USElection scene hots up in teacher, graduate seats
The young, the intelligent and the novice are among 50 candidates whose fate will be decided when voting takes place for the Council elections from two teachers’ and two graduates’ constituencies on June 20.
A total of 1.76 lakh graduates and 63,483 teachers will exercise their franchise. From the West graduates’ constituency, the JD(S) has preferred lineage over political experience. Vasanth Horatti, son of senior JD(S) leader and sitting MLC from the teachers’ constituency Basavaraj Horatti, is contesting his first elections.
While his opponents call him a ‘moneybag’, the 38-year-old MBA from New Zealand says his age will help him win. Horatti runs the Oxford Group of Educational Institutions. Vasanth is also banking on his father’s political experience.
However, the JD(S) hopeful has a few concerns. BJP candidate and Vasanth’s opponent, Sanakanur Siddalingappa Veerappa is confident that his party’s appeal among the youth and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity will give him the edge.
Commands respect
From the Bangalore teachers’ constituency, academician Gururaj Karjagi is contesting against sitting MLC from the JD(S), Puttanna. Karjagi commands a lot of respect. But, teachers in the constituency believe that his political inexperience may deter them from voting for him. “He is a respected academician, but politics is no cakewalk,” said Puttanna, who is confident of winning his seat for the third time.
For Mahantappa Bakappa Ambalgi, the son of an agriculture labourer, it is an opportunity he does not want to squander. Contesting on a JD(S) ticket from the North-East teachers’ constituency, Ambalgi is a newcomer to politics. He is banking on the hope that teachers across the State will vote as one major block for the JD(S).
Close ties with Gowda
“With teachers likely to vote for a teacher, I am hopeful of my chances. It is an opportunity which came to me on account of my close ties with the Deve Gowda family,” said the 51-year-old lecturer at the Gulbarga government junior college.
Congress candidates, on the other hand, are hoping for a ‘miracle’ to win at least one of the four seats to the Council. C H Murigendrappa, who is contesting from the South-East graduates’ constituency, said, “I am sure to give a tough fight.
In the last one week, things have been changing with the party being in the limelight. I am hoping to cash in on the achievements of the Congress government in the State,” he said.