No takers for young leaders in Karnataka

BANGALORE: There might be enthusiasm for young turks like Rahul Gandhi, Priya Dutt, Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia in their states but Karnataka seems to prefer the not-so-young when it
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BANGALORE: There might be enthusiasm for young turks like Rahul Gandhi, Priya Dutt, Sachin Pilot and Jyotiraditya Scindia in their states but Karnataka seems to prefer the not-so-young when it comes to electing its Lok Sabha representatives.

Out of known youth contestants, including Congress's Krishna Byre Gowda and Tejaswini Gowda, and Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa's son B.Y. Raghavendra of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is only Raghavendra who managed to win from Shimoga constituency.

Raghavendra defeated his nearest rival, Congress veteran S. Bangarappa, by 52,893 votes.

"It's a verdict for the work of the first BJP government in Karnataka. I am grateful to the people for reposing confidence in me," a jubilant Raghavendra, flashing the victory symbol, told IANS.

On the poor performance by other youth candidates, 36-year-old Raghavendra said that most of the candidates had done nothing to win the trust of the people.

"People voted only those candidates who have either showed promise to perform, or have already been performing. But yes, more and more youth should come into politics and work for development of Karnataka," said Raghavendra.

Tejaswini Gowda came third in Rural Bangalore constituency, where former chief minister of Karnataka H.D. Kumaraswamy and Janata Dal-Secular president won by a margin of 130,275 votes from his nearest rival of the BJP C.P. Yogeeshwara.

Tejaswini, 42, was not available for comment.

A close associate of Tejaswini, on condition of anonymity, said that party senior leadership did not work for her victory.

"Tejaswini fought a lonely battle. Had she been supported by the party leadership, she would have surely won. Her defeat has nothing to do with her age," added the aide.

Byre Gowda (36), a legislator from Byatarayanapura in Bangalore, lost to BJP's H.N. Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South by 37,612 votes. This is Ananth Kumar's fifth consecutive win from the constituency.

The campaign office of Byre Gowda at upscale Jayanagar was deserted while sweets were being distributed by Ananth Kumar's supporters.

Ramesh Chandra, a volunteer who campaigned extensively for Gowda, said that a good candidate has lost.

"Gowda is a progressive leader and has a history of development work behind him. It is sad that Bangalore could not get a young and progressive face to represent the city in the parliament," rued Chandra, an IT professional.

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