Lok Sabha Elections: Only 2 Congress candidates in Dakshina Kannada in 40 years
Deepthi Sanjiv | TNN | Mar 16, 2019, 10:24 IST
NO SUCCESSION PLAN: A file photo of Rahul Gandhi with Janardhana Poojary (centre) and Veerappa Moily (right)MANGALURU: The Congress has been projecting its president Rahul Gandhi as a youth leader talking about young India and the job market. But when it comes to Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, for almost four decades the party has fielded only two candidates — former Union ministers B Janardhana Poojary and Veerappa Moily.
Till the last polls, Poojary was the candidate for the constituency. On Thursday, he even challenged the party that he’d contest as a rebel if the party gave the ticket to SCDCC chairman MN Rajendra Kumar. Meanwhile, Moily shifted his base to Chikkaballapur constituency.
From Dakshina Kannada, Poojary won in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 1989 and lost in 1991, 1996 and 1998, following which Veerappa Moily lost from Dakshina Kannada in 1999 and 2004. Poojary returned to contest in 2009 and 2014, only to be defeated. When asked why the Congress has not developed its second-rung leaders, Poojary said, “If only two people have contested from the Congress in the past four decades, it means that both these leaders have had good luck. We’ll support anyone, except Rajendra Kumar.”
Member of legislative council Ivan D’Souza agreed that the party is not taking the risk and fielding young leaders. “This is the right time to change the candidate as Poojary has lost five times and is not in good health. Before elections, we talk about youth, but during elections we only look at winning candidates. In the coastal belt, BJP is gaining in the name of Hinduism. Top leaders feel that because of polarisation, a Christian or a Muslim candidate may not win and they look at a candidate from the Bunt or Billava community. The party lacks a concrete plan. When Nalin Kumar Kateel contested for the first time, he was not even a panchayat member. We have seen how the BJP took a risk to field new faces,” he said.
Former MLA JR Lobo looks at it differently. “I didn’t ask for a seat looking at the expenditure. If we look closely at representatives in the assembly or Parliament, more than 60 per cent are linked to the real estate or have a business background. As elections are costly, deserving candidates don’t come forward,” he said.
Till the last polls, Poojary was the candidate for the constituency. On Thursday, he even challenged the party that he’d contest as a rebel if the party gave the ticket to SCDCC chairman MN Rajendra Kumar. Meanwhile, Moily shifted his base to Chikkaballapur constituency.
From Dakshina Kannada, Poojary won in 1977, 1980, 1984 and 1989 and lost in 1991, 1996 and 1998, following which Veerappa Moily lost from Dakshina Kannada in 1999 and 2004. Poojary returned to contest in 2009 and 2014, only to be defeated. When asked why the Congress has not developed its second-rung leaders, Poojary said, “If only two people have contested from the Congress in the past four decades, it means that both these leaders have had good luck. We’ll support anyone, except Rajendra Kumar.”
Member of legislative council Ivan D’Souza agreed that the party is not taking the risk and fielding young leaders. “This is the right time to change the candidate as Poojary has lost five times and is not in good health. Before elections, we talk about youth, but during elections we only look at winning candidates. In the coastal belt, BJP is gaining in the name of Hinduism. Top leaders feel that because of polarisation, a Christian or a Muslim candidate may not win and they look at a candidate from the Bunt or Billava community. The party lacks a concrete plan. When Nalin Kumar Kateel contested for the first time, he was not even a panchayat member. We have seen how the BJP took a risk to field new faces,” he said.
Former MLA JR Lobo looks at it differently. “I didn’t ask for a seat looking at the expenditure. If we look closely at representatives in the assembly or Parliament, more than 60 per cent are linked to the real estate or have a business background. As elections are costly, deserving candidates don’t come forward,” he said.
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