Congress, BJP seem on an equal footing in Karkala

Karkala Assembly constituency is emerging as another interesting battle turf which may offer a direct fight between Congress and BJP as both the parties are confident of an easy victory despite uncertainties thrown in by the voters.

Although the political hierarchy of the constituency is dominated by the Congress many times, in the recent past, the voters are becoming more and more experimental.

Since 1972 to 1994, former Chief Minister Veerappa Moily who contested from Karkala on a Congress ticket went on to make history by winning consecutively for six times. All said and done the Congress at present is facing the brunt of dissent as one of the main ticket aspirants Uday Kumar Shetty Muniyalu, who was backed by most Congressmen in the constituency, displayed his anger against fielding Gopal Bhandary. He expressed his displeasure to the party high command by staging various agitations. The internal differences within the party escalated and Bhandary was in fact portrayed as an incapable contestant by political rivals within his own party. The dissent might end up in party members working against their own candidate.

The Assembly constituency which is always on the radar for being the most hypersensitive terrain in terms of Maoist activities, remains underdeveloped despite various political parties claiming credit for the invisible development works. These areas lack of basic infrastructural facilities.

A majority of households here do not own title deeds. There is a huge demand in Hebri to accord it taluk status but the issue remains unsettled till date. A drinking water problem looms large. The state highway that passes through the constituency is the only upgraded stretch that is available. The roads within the city limits are all congested and the widening work is not initiated as assured. Besides, a wild animal menace has been a botheration for farmers in areas like Ajekaru, Edu, Bajegoli and Mala.

Sunil Kumar told DH that he is confident of an easy victory. He said that he wanted to set up a monkey park in the constituency, but had to drop it because of non-availability of funds. He said he would try to solve the wild animal menace, besides trying to develop basic facilities.

Gopal Bhandary said that he is confident that voters would prefer him owing to the failure of the BJP candidate in fulfilling the assurances. The differences within the party would be sorted out and all would jointly work for the party’s victory, he added.