Gangadhar Gowda
MANGALORE: The Congress affliction of uncertainty in finalizing candidates has rubbed off on BJP too. The saffron party which used to be the first off the blocks in announcing candidates’ list in all previous polls has faltered this time.
It’s still dilly-dallying on finalizing candidates for Belthangady and Moodbidri constituencies in Dakshina Kannada district. With this, the party which used to be way ahead in campaigning has left its party workers confused in these constituencies.
BJP Leader Pratap Simha Nayak, whose name figures for Belthangady constituency apart from aspirants like Prabhakar Bangera, Gangadhar Gowda, says, “The confusion will be over on Saturday when the name is announced.”
He admitted that BJP has fallen behind this time in finalizing candidates, but attributed it to the thinking to give proper representation and also confusion in thinking at the grassroots and state level about a suitable candidate.
It is learnt that the BJP taluk unit had finalized the names of Prabhakar Bangera, Pratap Simha Nayak, Ranjan Gowda and Kushalappa Gowda.
Whereas in Moodbidri, the fight was primarily between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), but being a national party BJP’s role has dented both the party bases in 2008 polls. The contenders for Moodbidri from BJP are many like DK district BJP unit vice-president Jagadish Adhikari, Umanath Kotian, Satyajit, zilla pancahayat member Eshwar Kateel among others.
But with Billavas being a dominant force in that constituency, BJP is planning on fielding a Billava to counter Abhayachandra Jain from Jain community and Amarnath Shetty from the Bunt community. As on Friday, there were two contenders – Adhikari and Kateel. Like Belthangady, the name is likely to be finalized on Saturday.
