Cong takes to soft Hindutva to stop BJP juggernaut

Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, nestled between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, has been a stronghold of the BJP since 1991.

The saffron party, playing the Hindutva card, has made the constituency with eight Assembly segments, its own for the almost three decades now.

This election, the BJP is banking on Hindutva and “Modi wave” to hold its fort while the Congress-JD(S) coalition is focussing on the failure of incumbent MP Nalin Kumar Kateel for the last 10 years and also the failure of the NDA government led by Narendra Modi, to wrest the constituency from the saffron party.

In fact, Congress has gone for a soft Hindutva approach with the candidate and party workers wearing a saffron shawl, visiting temples, and offering fodder to cattle in the gaushalas.

Though the issues of Yettinahole project, illegal transportation of cattle leading to the communal rift, lack of development in interior villages haunt the people, they never become a poll issue.

In fact, many are not happy with the MP’s performance, but they want Modi again for national issues, including the security.

For Ganesh from Salethoor, “Nalin Kumar Kateel has not done any concrete development works. However, I want Modi to be re-elected to power. We have already witnessed Balakot air strikes against terrorists under Modi’s regime, which proves his leadership,” he added.

“If people like Kateel, who had publicly threatened to set his own constituency of fire, achieve a hat-trick of victories in Dakshina Kannada, then it is a blot on democracy.

“It is time for the people of the district to prove that they are not arsonists,” said Muhammed J from Sullia.

BJP confident of win

Meanwhile, the BJP cadre is confident of victory. The BJP leaders claim that Kateel
has brought many central government initiatives, including Kulai jetty, a long-pending demand of the fishermen, to the district.

BJP candidate Nalin Kumar Kateel said “I have effectively utilised funds under the MP’s local area development scheme in addition to getting works worth over Rs 16,500 crore to the constituency. There is a Modi wave with the entire country wanting to give him another term. Our strong cadre in the district can outwit the Congress-JDS coalition, of course, with Modi factor.”

On the other hand, Congress candidate Mithun Rai feels that incumbent MP has failed miserably in implementing development works in the district.

“Further, I am seeking vote for a change, to bring in changes in the district by taking up development works, thus help in generating employment.

No efforts were made to promote tourism as many beaches here have remained unexplored,” he said.

The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has been making its presence felt slow and steady. In the 2014 election, Haneef Khan Kodaje of SDPI had secured 27,254 votes.

Dakshina Kannada, like in previous elections, a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress.