Ruling Congress hamstrung, no Vokkaliga netas to woo community in Mandya

Bengaluru: Despite the Congress-run state government announcing a series of bhagyas for the benefit of the people, the Congress is facing an uphill task in Vokkaliga-dominated Mandya district because of lack of leaders from the majority community.

At the same time, the opposition Janata Dal (Secular) continues to maintain its stronghold, even as the Congress has failed to throw up a strong Vokkaliga leader to woo the community. The political retirement of “Mandyada Gandu” (son of the soil) and sitting MLA of Mandya city assembly constituency M.H. Ambarish has created a big “Vokkaliga vacuum” for the Congress.

Not long ago, the party had a galaxy of Vokkaliga leaders such as K.V. Shankaregowda, D. Made Gowda, S.M. Krishna, M.S. Atmananda and Ambarish. But they have all distanced themselves from the party. While Mr Made Gowda retired from politics long ago, Mr Krishna joined the BJP after he was allegedly snubbed by the Congress. Mr Atmananda too is feeling ignored after being denied the ticket from the party.

An office-bearer in the Mandya District Congress Committee told Deccan Chronicle that Mr Ambarish could have easily filled the void if he had not been unceremoniously sacked from the council of ministers alleging poor performance. He was also upset with the induction of seven rebel JD(S) legislators, especially N. Chaluvarayaswamy of Nagamangala and Ramesh Bandisiddegowda of Srirangapatna into the Congress without consulting him.

Since then, Mr Ambarish distanced himself from the party and did not submit the application to seek a ticket. Subsequently, he refused to contest the May 12 assembly elections. Caste is a big factor in Mandya, which has the highest Vokkaliga population in the state, and lack of leaders from the community will hit the Congress hard. The newly inducted Vokkaliga leaders – Mr Chaluvarayaswamy and Mr Ramesh Bandisiddegowda – are popular in their constituencies, but not elsewhere.

Mr Atmananda too has withdrawn from campaigning after the party gave ticket to Ravi Ganiga, a new entrant into the party after Mr Ambarish declined to contest. A miffed Mr Atmananda is learnt to have written a strongly-worded letter to KPCC president G. Parameshwar for neglecting senior leaders while selecting candidates. The responsibility of campaigning in the district has now fallen on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Girish Gowda, a JD(S) leader from Mandya, said that his party definitely has an advantage because of lack of community leadership in the Congress and retirement of Mr Ambarish.

“People will teach a befitting lesson to two turncoats – Mr cheluvarayaswamy and Mr Ramesh – for ditching JD(S) president H.D. Deve Gowda and state unit chief H.D. Kumaraswamy after enjoying power for over two decades,” he said.

One or two more rounds of campaigning by Mr Deve Gowda and Mr Kumaraswamy will tilt the fortunes in favour of JD(S) candidates. Already, the Congress candidates have started showing signs of disappointment. What the top two leaders of the JD(S) want is a humiliating defeat of Mr Cheluvarayaswamy and Mr Ramesh, JD(S) leaders said. If Mr Ambarish fails to campaign for the Congress candidates here, it will be a further blow to their prospects.