JAMKHANDI: Ahead of head of a likely cliff-hanger clash between the Congress and the BJP in the November 3 Assembly bypoll in Jamkhandi, a posse of their top leadership is involved in a frenzied campaign.
Before his death a few months ago, Jamkhandi MLA Siddu Nyamgouda (Cong) had established his stranglehold on the constituency. With his son Anand Nyamagouda being a novice to big-time politics, the BJP finds the opportunity golden to capture this Congress bastion.
Ahead of the bypoll, BJP got all its top Jamkhandi leaders together to iron out their differences under B S Yeddyurappa’s stewardship. Sangamesh Nirani, Basavaraj Sindhur and Umesh Mahabalshetty, who worked as BJP rebels in the last election and ensured the defeat of party candidate Srikanth Kulkarni, are believed to be working in tandem for his victory this time. As a rebel, Nirani polled 25,000 votes in the last election, and Kulkarni lost by about 2,700 votes to Siddu Nyamagouda.
Yeddyurappa got a pact forged between Kulkarni and the rebels making it clear that this will be Kulkarni’s last election in Jamkhandi. They decided to join hands when Kulkarni admitted at a meeting headed by Yeddyurappa that it will be his last election after which he would work as a party leader.
“The rebel activities led to my defeat last election. With all of us together this time, I am confident of winning this bypoll by not less than 20,000 votes. Also, the Congress candidate is inexperienced and needs to work in the constituency for some more time,” says Srikant Kulkarni.
According to Kulkarni, the Congress has never polled over 50,000 votes in any election so far in Jamkhandi. “A major share of the Lingayat votes (41,000) and 35,000 Dalit votes, which split among the BJP and its rebels last time, will swing in my favour. A large section of farmers will rally behind me for Nyamagouda’s failure to work for their welfare,’’ adds Kulkarni.
Jamkhandi constituency predominently comprises of Lingayats besides SCs, STs, Kurubas and the minorities. The BJP is a favourite for many farmers in Savalgi, Chikkapadasalgi and Tungal villages. Vittal Hosmani of Savalgi says the Chikkapadasalgi barrage, which Nyamagouda claims to have got built, actually took shape after farmers contributed money. Not all farmers in Jamkhandi are happy with Nyamagouda’s claims, says Hosmani, adding that BJP would poll about 70,000 votes if its flock remains united.
However, others feel that Lingayat BJP leaders, including the business tycoons Nirani brothers, will not like Kulkarni to win as it could affect their clout. “To prevent other leaders from gaining control, Niranis could indirectly support Nyamagouda in the bypoll. They seem to have merely pretended to support BJP,’’ a source said.
On the other hand, the Congress is upbeat about retaining the seat riding on the sympathy wave, and has turned it as a fight between the young and senior leaders. To attract the youth, who form a major share of voters in Jamkhandi, youth leaders such as KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao, MLAs Laxmi Hebbalkar, Anjali Nimbalkar, Ganesh Hukkeri and Anand Singh have been leading campaigns, even as seniors like Siddaramaiah, G Parameshwara, Prakash Hukkeri and K C Venugopal are camping in Jamkhandi.
“Late Siddu Nyamagouda took up a series of developmental works, including construction of Chikkapadasalgi barrage, infrastructure development, drinking water projects, etc. His popularity helped him defeat former Chief Minister late Ramakrishna Hegde in the Lok Sabha polls from Bagalkot constituency in the past. A majority of voters will rally behind his son,’’ says Congress MLA Anjali Nimbalkar.