Bypolls over, calculations on

Kadur: All parties claim edge over others

It is said that if BJP wins, it would be the victory of the ‘strength of organisation,’ if JD(S) wins, it will be the victory of the goodwill and if Congress wins, it will be the manifestation of people’s love for K M Krishnamurthy.

According to JD(S) Publicity Committee President and former MLA Dharmegowda, Y S V Datta will win with a margin of 3000 votes. His calculation shows that BJP might take a lead of 1500 to 5000 votes at places like Mathighatta, Singatagere and Hirenallur but JD(S) will beat it from Yagati and Birur hoblis. Dharmegowda says that this year SC/ST and backward community votes will be bagged by Datta undoubtedly.

However, BJP has a calculation to counter this. BJP leaders feel that BJP will get a lead of 9500 votes from Singatagere, Hirenallur and Mathighatta. BJP will also get a lead of 3000 votes from Yagati, according to them and at the same time JD(S) will fail to get a lead from Birur as well.

Meanwhile, Congress with its straight calculation has been a matter of discussion in the constituency. Congress has bagged its conventional votes along with large number of Kuruba votes. Apart from this one big factor which can bring victory to Congress is the untimely death of K M Krishnamurthy who was considered as a secular leader. His brother K M Kemparaju is said to have got good number of ‘sympathy’ votes.

Strategy

Though BJP has been saying that they will fight the elections by keeping forth the clean character of their candidate Dr Vishwanath, what the party did was quite different. The party sidelined the candidate and went campaigning on strength of organisation. Lavish campaigning, caste based calculations seemed to be the main strategy of BJP this time.
Another point which is making news is that Dr Vishwanath’s victory will have direct impact on the ‘progress report’ of Chikmagalur MLA C T Ravi. His victory can make Ravi get cabinet berth directly. It is said that partyworkers were seen working round the clock just to see C T Ravi become a minister.

History

“If Datta wins, it will be a history in the state.” This is the common sentence being heard in the political circles. It is said that Datta’s victory will give out a clear message to the state that goodwill is much more valuable then money, caste and power.

Kadur bypolls is a prestige issue for Congress leader Siddaramaiah. It was due to Siddaramaiah that Congress ticket was given to K M Kemparaju and it is now said that Kemparaju’s victory will change Siddaramaiah’s image in the state, thereby increasing his hold in KPCC.

At the same time, failure of Kemparaju will hint at decreasing popularity of Siddaramaiah among the Kuruba community.