BENGALURU: Carved out of Yelahanka and Jayamahal constituencies after the delimitation of constituencies in 2008, Hebbal is set for a high-stakes fight between Rehman Sharief of Congress and Y A Narayanaswamy of BJP in the bypolls to be held on February 13.
Though JD(S) has fielded its candidate, Ismail Sharief, the fight is mainly between Congress and the BJP. However, Ismail Sharief’s presence is causing a few worries for Congress of a split in votes of Muslim community, which has a significant presence in the constituency.
The bypoll is necessitated due to the death of Jagadish Kumar of BJP, a close confidant of former minister Katta Subramanya Naidu. Kumar was fielded in 2013 as Katta could not contest due to taint of corruption. Hebbal is one of the high profile constituencies in Bengaluru as it is home for many big names like former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. Hebbal has an entire layout for the judges and many prestigious academic institutions including ISRO Centre. The constituency is a mix of modern layouts, middle class pockets and slums. While Sanjaynagar and RT Nagar are well developed layouts, the constituency has large slums like Chamundinagar, Kousarnagar and Matadahalli, Dalit Colonies—Dalit colonies in Shakti Nagar, Guddadahalli and Geddalahalli which are crying for civic amenities. The constituency comprises eight BB MP wards —Radhakrishna Temple, Sanjaynagar, Gangenahalli, Ganganagar, Hebbal, Vishwanatha Nagenahalli, Manorayanapalya and Jayachamarajendra Nagar.
Political History
■ Considered a BJP bastion.
■ 2008 Assembly Election—Katta Subramanya Naidu of BJP won with a lead of over 4,900 votes against H M Revanna of Congress.
■ 2013 Assembly Election— Jagadish Kumar of BJP had trounced Rahman Sharief of Congress by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Hebbal Bypoll
Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said that Congress candidate Rahman Sharief would emerge victorious in the Hebbal bypoll.
Know Your Candidates
Y A Narayanaswamy (BJP)
A post graduate in engineering (ME), Narayanaswamy is a Kolar-based sitting BJP MLC of Teachers’ Constituency. The 51-year-old leader is engaged in engineering consultancy services. He is engaged in taking up the academic issues and problems of the farmers.
Rahman Sharief (Congress)
The 33-year-old grandson of former Union minister Jaffer Sharief will contest from Hebbal for the second time. He was defeated in 2013 by BJP's Jagadish Kumar. He has a Diploma in Enterprises and Entrepreneurs from London School of Business and Finances, and is engaged in social activities in Muslim community.
Ismail Sharief (JDS)
This will be his debut in electoral politics. The high school drop out is a businessman, and is said to be a close associate of JD(S) legislator Zameer Ahmed Khan. His selection as the JD(S) candidate has come as a surprise for many leaders. But with party supremo H D Deve Gowda’s blessings, he is confident of making it big.