BANGALORE: Byelection fever is hotting up in the Udupi-Chikmagalur Parliamentary constituency, with both BJP and Congress announcing their candidates on Tuesday.
While BJP has decided to field its state youth wing president and former MLA from Karkala, Sunil Kumar, the Congress has decided to place its bets on former minister and four-time MLA from Brahmavar, Jayaprakash Hegde. In all probability, Madhu Bangarappa, the son of former CM late S Bangarappa, is going to be its candidate, though the former Bajrang Dal state convenor Mahendra Kumar is also in the race.
By deciding to field Sunil Kumar, the BJP hopes to garner the Ediga community vote, which is in majority, besides banking on its strong traditional vote bank in the constituency.
On the other hand, the Congress which is desperate to break its series of byelection defeats, is banking on Hegde’s clean image, who lost out narrowly to Chief Minister D V Sadanand Gowda in the previous Parliamentary elections.
The series of corruption charges and controversies in the BJP government would also boost the Congress’ confidence.