KALGHATGI (Dharwad): Labour minister and sitting MLA Santosh Lad’s bid for a hat-trick from Kalghatgi constituency in
Dharwad district has run into strong anti-incumbency this time. The Ballari mining baron also has to contend with allegations that he has abandoned his constituency and left it at the mercy of his army of personal assistants.
BJP is trying to whip up sympathy for its candidate C M Nimbannavar, citing that he has already lost twice to the
Congress candidate and needs to be given a chance at least the third time. The party’s bid to label Lad as an outsider may not wash as the segment has already elected him twice.
Lad had first defeated Nimbannavar by 11,642 votes in 2008 and again in 2013 by 31,144 votes. Though there was confusion in the BJP on who to field, the party decided to field Nimbannavar again, realising that his popularity could be its best bet.
Jayatirtha Katti, organizing secretary, BJP says the MLA has failed to bring in any big projects to Kalghatgi despite being a minister twice in the Siddaramaiah government. “The MLA always stayed in Bengaluru and never bothered to visit the constituency. Several issues still remain unaddressed due to his prolonged absence,” he claims.
Lad, however, dismissed the charges. “I have made concerted efforts to address the problem of roads and drinking water in the constituency as a minister. As they (BJP) me, they keep on calling me an outsider. Voters will give them a befitting reply. Wherever I go, I am getting a positive response, which is proof that people are happy with the development works done in the constituency,” he says.
Nimbannavar is confident that there is no need to even explain Lad’s lapses to the constituents. “People are expressing their ire against the sitting MLA and also dissatisfaction over development works. People of Kalghatagi are fed up with the darbar of PAs of Lad in 10 years. Everyone wants change,” he says.
The BJP candidate alleges that Congress is spending huge sums of money. “Lad cannot become a local. Kalghatgi is only a political home for him,” he argues.
Ramesh, a resident of Kadankoppa village, says people of Kalghatgi are eagerly waiting for the sugar factory promised by Lad to become a reality and generate jobs for locals.