Mangaluru: There is a direct fight between the Congress and BJP in the Mangaluru North Assembly Constituency.
In the last two decades, the BJP has won two times and the Congress two times in the Mangaluru City North Assembly Constituency, which is dominated by tourism, industry and educational institutions. This has created a lot of curiosity in the Constituency and the contest between the leaders for the ticket has begun.
In the 2018 elections, BJP’s Dr. Y. Bharath Shetty defeated B. A. Moideen Bava of the Congress. He contested for the first time and won by a margin of 26,648 votes. Dr. Bharath Shetty, who is an MLA from Mangaluru City North Assembly Constituency, has created his own image in terms of development. He is also making noise as a firebrand of Hindutva. With all these views in mind, the BJP is considering fielding Dr. Bharath Shetty again but some leaders are quietly eyeing the constituency. According to another source, Dr. Bharath is a dentist and there are plans within the Party to recommend him for the next Lok Sabha elections. It is not surprising, then, if the BJP chooses a new candidate for Surathkal at the last moment.
KPCC Secretary Inayat Ali, Former MLA Moideen Bava, Former Mayors Shashidhar Hegde and Kavitha Sanil, Former State Religious Council Member Padmanabha Kotian have already started the fight for the Congress ticket from Mangaluru City North Assembly Constituency. Former Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chitrapur, Former Corporator Pratibha Kulai, Altaf Surathkal and Luqman Bantwal have also applied for tickets. The BJP is silently watching the contest of Congress leaders for an election ticket.
A direct fight has begun between Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D. K. Shivakumar’s close aide Inayat Ali and Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s close aide Moideen Bava for the Congress ticket.
Moideen Bava is a Former MLA who has carried out development programmes in the constituency. Inayat Ali has been running in the constituency continuously for over a year now and has been organising the party. The party workers are making their mark in the constituency by extending a helping hand to those in distress. So giving a ticket in this constituency is more like a hot ghee situation for the Congress.
According to a source, the Congress is also trying to bring Muslim candidates to a consensus and field a Hindu candidate in Surathkal to counter the BJP’s Hindu agenda.
Inayat Ali and Moideen Bava are vying for Congress tickets and busy campaigning in the Constituency. Where one has gone, the other is going and showing their strength. Even in the Prajadhvani Yatra, the two Congress leaders came forward to put up a show of strength in their own style.
MLA Dr. Y. Bharath Shetty has been touring the constituency from morning till midnight to participate in meetings, functions and jatras. In the meantime, the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies are in full swing.
Dr. Bharath Shetty has conducted Janaspandana programmes across the constituency as a model.
BJP-Congress ticket aspirants are organising tug-of-war, cricket and volleyball matches. Various camps, including medical and dental camps, are in full swing.
According to a source in the Congress, like the BJP, the Congress is likely to make a surprise choice for the Mangaluru City North and South Assembly Constituencies this time. There is a discussion within the High Command circles about dropping candidates who are in the forefront campaign in both the constituencies and giving tickets to the Billavas in Mangaluru South and Bunt community in the North. Senior leaders are also thinking of taking the minority aspirants, who are seeking tickets, into confidence and resolving them through talks. However, Congress leaders say that it is not surprising that magic is on in the party until they get the B form and finally apply.
