In Udupi, Congress, BJP wait for list of candidates

The political race for the Assembly constituencies in Karnataka has officially begun as the state is going to polls on May 12 and results will be out three days later on May 15. The district is also gearing up with preparations on in full swing for the forthcoming elections.

The three main players in the fight are Congress, BJP and JD(S) but JD(S) is becoming insignificant in the district and the arch-rivals are only Congress and BJP.

The previous Assembly elections held in 2013 had resulted in some mixed results although the Congress grabbed Udupi, Byndoor and Kaup Assembly constituencies. BJP had grabbed Karkala as excepted and Haladi Srinivas Shetty, who had the stronghold in Kundapur assembly constituency had clinched the victory as an Independent.

BJP district president Mattar Ratnakar Hedge told DH that names of two candidates (Haladi Srinivas Shetty from Kundapur and V Sunil Kumar from Karkala) have been announced and names of three more candidates (for Udupi, Kaup and Baindoor) would be finalised soon.

He added that BJP has taken up intensive booth level campaigns wherein all the 1,000 and odd booths are engaged in robust poll campaigning activities.

The women troupes under Shakthi Kendras are involved in various activities to ensure that campaigning reaches every nook and corner of the district. Besides, youths have been roped in for campaigning. He added that a recent campaign included more than 1,000 motorbikes taking part in all the Assembly constituencies to spread awareness about the BJP's poll agenda.

Meanwhile, Congress district president Janardhan Thonse said that the party is embarking on a door-to-door campaign, while the party leaders are engaged in contacts with the people in the district.

He added that already the candidates in the Assembly constituencies of Kaup, Udupi and Byndoor are confirmed as the sitting MLAs are being offered tickets.

He said that at present only face-to-face interactions and campaigns are the way to approach the voters.

After the complete picture, which is expected to be clear on April 27, the poll strategy of the party will be changed entirely, he said.

The party high command has approached the party leaders over the finalisation of the candidates in Kundapur and Karkala. The names of candidates would be known in these two Assembly constituencies in a day or two, he added.