Cong’s ‘unfamiliar’ face gives BJP edge in Davangere

Congress nominee H B Manjappa

The confusion and delay in Congress over fielding suitable candidate against BJP nominee G M Siddeshwara, who is eyeing a fourth term as MP in a row seems to have given the edge to the saffron party in Davangere.

The Congress initially considered octogenarian Shamanur Shivashankarappa as its nominee. But the veteran leader, who had won Lok Sabha once in 1998, turned down the ticket to express his ire against the denial of ministerial berth in the coalition government.

Finally, H B Manjappa, chief of the District Congress Committee and former president of zilla panchayat, was fielded. All these developments gave head-start to BJP, which has won Davangere seat five times so far.

Admitting that he is not a familiar face in the entire constituency, the Congress nominee, who hails from Honnali, said, “I was an aspirant for Honnali Assembly ticket. But the party asked me to face Lok Sabha polls. I will abide by it. Reaching out to around 16 lakh voters in a short span is an uphill task. But I am determined to give my best.”

He is seen as the front man of former minister S S Mallikarjuna, belonging to Lingayat community, which forms major chunk of voters in the constituency.

“I am banking on ‘Mallanna’ to garner the support of Lingayats. We too (Kuruba community) had worked for the victory of Congress candidate D G Shantana Gouda in Honnali in the Assembly polls of 2013. I am confident that they would back me this time.” Besides, he is banking on minorities and backward classes to register victory in his first attempt.

Going by the caste equations, Lingayats play decisive role in the victory of any candidate as they form major chunk of voters in the constituency, followed by SCs, Muslims, STs, Kuruba community and others.

Since 1996, it has been a electoral battle between leaders of Lingayat community in the constituency. After a gap of two decades, the constituency is witnessing electoral battle between Lingayat and backward class leaders. JD(S) is unlikely to make any impact due to its limited hold in the region.

Speaking to DH, Nagaraj, who runs a canteen at Bathi village near Harihara said “BJP will win easily this time as Congress nominee is not a familiar face among the electorates. If Mallikarjuna was in the fray, he may have won as there is sympathy for him after losing the Assembly polls.”

Phakeerappa, a farmer from Mayakonda, Davangere taluk, told DH, “Manjappa (Congress candidate) may be a good man. But he is not known to many voters. But Siddanna is a known man in the district and he is accessible to people at any time. This is likely to help BJP.”

The three-time MP Siddeshwara, who served as union minister in the NDA-government, is confident of victory as he brought grants for the implementation
of many development works in the constituency in the last five years.

These include six-laning of NH, Rs 25 crore each for upgradation of railway station, ESI hospital, Rs 20 crore for maternity ward in Chigateri hospital and the ‘Modi again, Siddanna once again’ campaign.

Making an indirect reference to his political rival Shamanur Shivashankarappa, he said, “I am people’s leader and I am available for their service at any time, unlike others. People have realised that only Modi will guard India from internal and external threats.”

Manjappa is confident of putting up a good fight due to the backing of Shivashankarappa and his son Mallikarjuna, but Siddeshwara seems ahead.