Mangaluru: Candidate selection seems to have become a tough exercise for the Dakshina Kannada local bodies constituency of the Legislative Council. Two leaders are in the race while the Billava community, one of the prominent communities in the coastal districts, has asked Chief Minister to field a candidate from the community.
Though sitting MLC Pratapchandra Shetty and Udupi DCC former chief M.A. Gafoor are in the race, Billava community has demanded a seat for DK DCC general secretary Harikrishna Bantwal. There are many in the party who feel that annoying the Billava community by not giving them a seat might affect the party in the forthcoming ZP-TP elections and also Assembly elections.
The frontrunner in the race is MLC Pratapchandra Shetty. As there were rumors that former MP Jayaprakash Hegde too was in the race, those MLAs who wanted to keep Hegde away are backing Shetty. However party workers, especially those in DK are not happy with Shetty as they allege that he has hardly done anything for the district. “Shetty hails from Udupi and has hardly done anything for DK. He was MLA of Kundapur for four consecutive terms and MLC for two terms,” a Congress leader told DC. According to sources, supporters of Jayaprakash Hegde are ready to support any candidate except Pratapchandra Shetty. Another name considered by the party is former DCC chief M.A. Gafoor. “Congress has to field one or two Muslims in this election in the state. There is no other constituency where party can field Muslim candidate except DK. Thus Gafoor who has been a loyal worker is the best candidate,” a party office-bearer said. Billava leaders have written to the CM asking the party to field Harikrishna Bantwal. “Party hasnot fielded a Billava from this constituency. Billava is the strongest community in coastal district. Thus party has to field somebody from the community this time. Harikrishna Bantwal is an apt choice,” a Billava leader said.
Download the all new Deccan Chronicle app for Android and iOS to stay up-to-date with latest headlines and news stories in politics, entertainment, sports, technology, business and much more from India and around the world.
