Vinay Kulkarni fends for himself

Dharwad: With just less than a week left for polling, the heat of campaigning along with the mercury is on the rise in Dharwad district. Hubballi-Dharwad Central and Kalghatagi constituencies have drawn attention as political parties have fielded defectors - Jagadish Shettar (Cong) and Nagaraj Chebbi (BJP) respectively.
For both Congress and BJP, getting their candidates elected in these two segments has become a matter of prestige. Top Congress leaders have thronged H-D Central and are sparing no effort to see that the result will not embarrass them.
Similarly, in Kalaghatagi, top BJP leaders including national president JP Nadda held a roadshow and public meeting seeking support to Nagaraj Chabbi.
In Dharwad Rural segment, two-time MLA and former minister Vinay Kulkarni of the Congress is facing a piquant situation. Accused in a murder case, he has been barred by the court from entering Dharwad district and he is forced to manage electioneering while sitting in Kittur.
His wife Shivaleela along with his supporters are leading the campaign. Kulkarni is reaching out to voters through video and audio calls. So far, no leader from Congress has visited his constituency and campaigned for him.
Contrary to this, BJPs nominee and sitting MLA Amrut Desai is touring the constituency and several leaders including chief minister Basavaraj Bommai, actor Sudeep, BJP parliamentary Board member BS Yediyurappa, Union minister Pralhad Joshi, MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal among others have campaigned for Desai.
Even before the elections were notified, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on the pretext of inaugurating the new campus of IIT-Dharwad held a mammoth public meeting and sounded the poll bugle.
Congress leaders cold shouldering Vinay Kulkarni is attributed to two factors. Kulkarni feels there is no need for leaders from outside to come and impress upon the voters. “I was elected twice – I am confident of people rewarding me,” he said.
However, political commentators feel the real reason for the Congress top leaders not coming to Kulkarni’s rescue is that the party was not keen to field him from Dharwad Rural where he could not physically go and campaign.
“For Shiggaon, Congress had zeroed in on Vinay Kulkarni. But he refused. He had a condition that if the party fielded him from Shiggaon, he should also be allowed to contest in Dharwad Rural. The party refused to oblige and sent him to Dharwad to defend for himself,” said a political commentator.