Winning Mysuru: CM’s men go to work

Bengaluru: The prestige of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is at stake in Mysuru-his hometown- and Chamarajanagar in the Council elections scheduled for December 27.

While the ruling Congress party is dependent on the image of Mr Siddaramaiah, Janata Dal (Secular) is heavily banking on gram panchayat members who hold sway in the elections to the state Legislative Council from local bodies.

Having tasted victory in 2008, the Bharatiya Janata Party too is sparing no effort to ensure its candidate wins.

Three ministers from the district, Dr H.C. Mahadevappa, H. Mahadevaprasad and Mr V. Srinivasaprasad are working hard to ensure the victory of the Congress nominee.

Of the total 15 Assembly seats in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, Congress had won 12 and the rest was bagged by Janata Dal (Secular) in 2013 Assembly polls.

The Bharatiya Janata Party was whitewashed in both districts due to divisions in the party when former Chief Minister Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa launched Karnataka Janata Party after his suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Now, Mr Yeddyurappa is back in the Bharatiya Janata Party and is using his influence to woo voters.

While the Congress has given the ticket to sitting MLC, Mr R Dharmasena, the Janata Dal (Secular) has fielded its veteran legislator cum producer, Mr Sandesh Nagaraj.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has given ticket to Mr Raghu, a former Congress leader who runs a chain of educational institutions in Mysuru.

Eyebrows were raised when the Bharatiya Janata Party declared Mr Raghu as its candidate.

The grapevine is that all is not well in Mysuru BJP thanks to groupism.

Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) legislators are working hard for the victory of their candidates keeping in view the coming zilla and taluk panchayat polls to be held next month.

This time, noted Kananda activist and founder president of Kannada Chaluvali Vatal Paksha, Mr Vatal Nagaraj is contesting as an independent candidate.

He was defeated in the 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections from Chamarajanagar seat and is making efforts to enter the Council.

Of the total 4,139 voters, 3,760 are gram panchayat members who hold the key.

The candidates are wooing gram panchayat members in the region with all kinds of freebies.

As of now, both the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) are confident of retaining their seats though the Bharatiya Janata Party is making fervent efforts to disturb the applecart.