Udupi: The Byndoor Assembly Constituency in Udupi District, which has villages that lie in coastal and Malnad regions, has seen a level playing field between the Congress and the BJP for several years. There is a situation where candidates from other parties are not counted at all. This, it is always the Congress and the BJP that are at loggerheads.
In the 2008 Assembly elections, K. Gopal Poojary of the Congress Party and K. Lakshminarayana of the BJP had a tough fight. Though there was no caste strength K. Lakshminarayana, who was shaken by the defeat in the previous elections entered the Vidhana Soudha for the first time as an MLA.
In the 2013 Assembly elections, which were held on the basis of caste calculations, Former MLA K. Gopala Poojary from the Congress party and B. M. Sukumara Shetty, a Former Trustee of Kollur Temple, contested on a caste basis. The Congress and the BJP fielded candidates from the Billava and Bunt Community, respectively. Both have an equal vote share in Byndoor Constituency.
B. M. Sukumara Shetty, who contested the elections for the first time, lost to K. Gopala Poojary.
In the 2018 Assembly elections, B. M. Sukumar Shetty from the Bunt Community and K. Gopala Poojary from the Billava Community were again rivals. Poojary, who wanted an easy victory due to his development works, conceded defeat to B. M .Sukumara Shetty in the 2018 elections due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charm, BJP’s heavy wave and people’s support to Sukumara Shetty.
Shetty, who contested the elections for the second time, climbed the stairs of Vidhana Soudha for the first time.
Byndoor MLA Shetty, who has undertaken a lot of development works in the Backward Byndoor Assembly Constituency through the party high command urging for a third chance. The opinions are being heard in social circles and it is not surprising if the sitting MLAs got the B – form.
Shetty, the sitting MLA from the Constituency, is keen to contest again in the upcoming elections. Former Zilla Panchayat Member Babu Hegde, Former Byndoor Mandal BJP President Pranay Kumar Shetty, Gururaja Shetty Gantihole, Nitin Narayana and Dr. Govinda Babu Poojary, who have a Sangh Parivar background, are among those who are fighting for tickets.They have taken up the campaign on social media through their fans’ association.
On the other hand, the name of Senior Politician and BJP Leader Jayaprakash Hegde has been doing the rounds and the BJP is yet to decide who will get the Byndoor ticket.
Former MLA K. Gopala Poojary, a four-time MLA from Byndoor Constituency, is all set to contest the 2023 Assembly elections as a rival of the BJP Party in the electoral arena. He is already busy campaigning through party workers.
Meanwhile, without confirming who will get the BJP ticket a few aspirants, through their fans’ association, have spread the word that they have got the ticket and getting fans to bat for them on social media.
The selection of candidates in Byndoor constituency appears to be tough, creating an atmosphere of confusion in the BJP. The BJP is likely to be an easy target for the Congress if the aspirants raise the banner of revolt.
Though the votes of the Bunts nd Billava communities are high in Byndoor Constituency, the votes of Devadiga, Mogaveera, Kharvi Community, Vishwakarma and SC/STs will be crucial for the victory of the candidates. It will be easier for candidates who attract the votes of the most backward classes to find victory in the elections.
Shetty has earned the love of the people in the Constituency through his development works. He has constructed roads and dams in villages. He helps people all the time.
“Here there is no confusion in BJP. Workers work in favour of the candidates suggested by the party. In Byndoor Constituency, lotus will bloom in 2023,” said Byndoor BJP Mandal President Deepak Kumar Shetty.
“In Byndoor Constituency, it is clear that people want change this time.The love shown by the people during door-to-door visits at the booth level in the Block Congress limits is encouraging us. People are fed up with corruption and price rise. K. Gopal Poojary, who lives a life of simplicity and easily accessible to all, will be re-elected as MLA with 100 per cent unprecedented votes,” says Wandse Block Congress President Pradeep Kumar Shetty.
