Chamaraja Assembly constituency in Mysuru, which was snatched by the Congress’ Vasu during the 2013 Assembly elections after four successive terms by BJP’s H.S. Shankarlinge Gowda since 1994, is shaping up for an interesting electoral battle in the coming Assembly elections.
Last Saturday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inaugurated a number of projects, including the 350-bedded Mysuru branch of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, in the constituency days after former Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily described the development works as a “model” for the rest of the State. Though Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) chairman D. Dhruvakumar also sought Congress ticket from the constituency, Mr. Vasu, who was publicly backed by Mr. Moily for a renomination, is hoping to be the party candidate again.
But, the electoral contest has turned out be interesting with former Vice-Chancellor of University of Mysore and Karnataka State Open University K.S. Rangappa, who has been harbouring political ambitions, throwing his hat in the ring as the JD(S) candidate upsetting the calculations of party colleague Harish Gowda, also a strong aspirant for ticket.
Mr. Harish Gowda, who served as the party’s Mysuru city unit president, has raised a banner of revolt and threatened to enter the poll fray as an Independent. Though he was to be made the party candidate in the last elections, Mr. Gowda claimed he made way for Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda, who quit the BJP and contested as JD(S) candidate unsuccessfully in 2013.
The BJP is yet to announce its candidate, but former MUDA chairman Nagendra, who was the party candidate in the last elections, the party’s city unit president Manjunath and Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda’s son Nandeesh Preetham are seeking party ticket.
When it comes to campaigning, Mr. Rangappa appears to be the first off the block with the JD(S) already announcing his name in the first list of official party candidates. He has started meeting people, organising functions, displaying posters on autorickshaws, and even bringing out a booklet on his achievements and promises.
But, Mr. Vasu was dismissive of the JD(S) holding out any threat to him in the constituency. “The JD(S) will not be my rival. It will be the BJP. Not because of the candidate, but because of the party,” he pointed out.
Mr. Vasu hopes the voters of the constituency will hold him in good stead in view of the more than ₹1,500 crore worth development works taken up in his constituency during his tenure.
