NewsKarnataka-Udupi
by Sheeja M
Udupi : The Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha Constituency which is one of the 28 parliamentary constituencies of Karnataka which will go to polls on 17 April 2014 has the best competitive candidates with equal confidence of winning the election.
This constituency has the assembly segments spread over the two districts namely Udupi and Chikmagalur. In Chikmagalur 81% of the population resides in rural area with the remaining 19% forming the urban population. Agriculture is the economical back bone of the district with coffee cultivation forming the major part of it.
On the other hand, Udupi is also known for farming.The district was once a thriving rice and coconut producer, but now we can find areca nut and cashew growers while many have even taken to dairy farming.
Both the districts stand apart from each other both economically and environmentally. However, the naxalite problem is one of the issues common to both Udupi and Chikmagalur districts.
According to the Delimitation Commission of India which implemented the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Constituencies Order of 2008, this parliamentary constituency came into existence in the year 2008.
After the reconstitution of Udupi Lok Sabha constituency as per the recommendations of the Delimitation Commission, the name of the constituency was changed from Udupi Lok Sabha constituency to ‘Udupi Chikmagalur’ Lok Sabha constituency.
Udupi Chikmagalur’ parliamentary constituency comprises four Assembly constituencies of Udupi district-viz Kundapur, Udupi, Kaup and Karkala, and four Assembly constituencies of Chikmagalur district: Sringeri, Mudigere (is reserved for scheduled caste candidates), Chikmagalur and Tarikere.
Udupi – Chikmagalur Lok Sabha Constituency in 2014 has 13,51,245 voters, with 6,61,364 male and 6,89,833 female and 48 other category voters.
In the 2012 by elections held in the constituency after the LS seat was vacated by DV Sadananda Gowda upon becoming the chief minister, the Congress wrested the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat from the BJP with party candidate K Jayaprakash Hegde emerging victorious by a margin of 45,724 votes.
This was a setback to the then ruling BJP after more than a decade in Karnataka(1998 to 2012).
Hegde, defeated BJP rival V Sunil Kumar in a loss of face to BJP.Hegde secured 3,98,723 votes as against 3,52,999 by Sunil Kumar.
The electoral loss for BJP came at time when the party was in a turmoil following the revolt led by B S Yeddyurappa demanding his reinstatement as chief minister.
This time the BJP with Yeddyurappa in its fold now, will be trying its maximum to establish supremacy in Karnataka which the party lost because of him earlier. On the other hand Congress for sure wants to continue the victory with its glory.
Campaign strategy :-Rejoining of B.S. Yeddyurappa to the party this January is the first major strategy of the BJP in Karnataka. ‘Hindutva’-based votes will be another strategy of the BJP.
To attract professionals and young voters, the BJP has mobilized professionals for campaigning, and has set up its Information, Communication and Technology unit. Especially the involvement of social ,media in this Lok Sabha campaign supporting BJP is not ignorable.
The Karnataka Youth Congress has also mobilised many professionals for their well-built tech team. Though the party was a little slow to adopt social media, it has now intensified its efforts. The party is also using the Yeddyurappa’s rejoining of BJP as an issue that revealed the true stance of the BJP.
The final list of Candidate in the fray:-
Jayaprakash Hedge from Congress, Shobha Karandlaje from BJP, Dhananjay Kumar from (JD(S), Zhakir Hussein (BSP), Gurudev S T (Aam Aadmi party), C J Jagnath (CPI (ML) Red Star, S Vijay Kumar from CPI, Sudheer Kanchan (Independent), Srinivas Poojari (Independent), Manjunath G (Independent), M D Mainuddin Khan Alias Asfiya (Independent).
