Triangular fight likely in Sringeri

The Sringeri assembly constituency is all set to witness a triangular fight among BJP, Congress and the JD(S).

Initially, it was believed that the party that wins the Sringeri constituency will come to power in the state. However, it has been proven wrong in the last few elections.

Extent

The Sringeri constituency covers Sringeri, Koppa and Narasimharajapura taluks, as well as Khandya hobli of Chikkamagaluru taluk.

As per the statistics of February 2018, the constituency has 1,62,108 voters, of whom, 81,726 are female voters.

A majority of the population is from the Vokkaliga community, and people of the community have been elected as legislators so far. The sitting legislator has the distinction of winning three times from this constituency.

The JD(S) was in the pinnacle in the constituency during the reign of former minister H G Govinde Gowda. Later, H T Rajendra led the JD(S) in the constituency. At present, ill health is bothering him. The JD(S) has announced Govinde Gowda's son H G Venkatesh, who is basking on the virtue of his father, as a manifesto of the party during his campaign.

Congress has not won the constituency after former minister D B Chandre Gowda. Last year's Congress candidate T D Raje Gowda, former minister Beganeramaiah's daughter Arathi Krishna, NR Pura taluk Congress unit president Dr K P Amshumanth, KPCC Kissan unit president Sachin Meega and former minister D K Taradevi are the ticket aspirants from Congress.

The constituency has seen a development of main roads, construction of two mini Vidhana Soudha, school, college and hostel buildings. However, the project of supplying Bhadra river water to Balehonnur, upgrade of government hospitals have remained neglected. The demand for a KSRTC depot at Sringeri has remained a dream.

No full-fledged hospital

Environmentalist Kalkulli Vittal Hegde said, "The constituency lacks a full-fledged hospital. The people from the constituency have to depend on hospitals in Manipal and Mangaluru for treatment. The NGOs are coming in the way of development of Kerekatte road. The main roads are developed to please the tourists. The interior roads remained neglected for all these years."

He added, "The elected representatives have failed to turn towards the slash in the price of arecanut and paddy. Though the government had set up a research institute to find a solution to yellow leaf disease that affects arecanut, no scientist has been appointed to the centre."

Lift irrigation

Jilla Raitha Sangha former president Vinayaka Maloorudinne said, "Skill-based education has been neglected. The work on lift irrigation to Honnekoodige moves in a snail's pace. Though the industrial area has been developed, no industries have come up."

Farmer S Sunil said, "Farmers who have lost their land for the Bhadra reservoir project are yet to get title deeds. Agro-based employment should be generated. Kadahina Bailu lift irrigation project should be extended to all the villages."