Yellapur: The appointment of Congress party observers for Yellapur assembly constituency has led to an animated discussion in party circles as workers feel many of these observers do not have anything to do with the constituency.
A mammoth team of 19 observers has been posted to Yellapur by the state Congress leadership to ensure the victory of party candidate Bhimanna Naik. The team is headed by former minister R.V. Deshpande.
Though all are happy that Mr Deshpande has been placed in charge of the team, leaders within the Congress have raised questions about the appointment of the other members.
"Deshpande enjoys good influence in the district and also has a bond with many parts of the present Yellapur constituency (which was carved out before the 2008 assembly election) as it was once part of Haliyal, his home constituency. His presence is likely to help the Congress candidate Bhimanna Naik," a party leader said.
"Leaders like former MLAs Satish Sail, Sharada Mohan Shetty and Mankala Vaidya too have been made observers. Though their influence is limited to their constituencies, they are at least from the region and know the people here. But some like former Mangaluru City Mayor Kavitha Sanil and Dakshina Kannada Congress candidate Mithun Rai who had lost the last election besides some former MLAs too have been made observers. We cannot understand the rationale behind this. They hardly know the workers or people here. What will they do is the big question," he said.
Congress leaders feel the appoinment of observers has to be done considering their leadership abilities, their ability to woo voters and above all the capacity to build the party. "This is a crucial election where the BJP has to be defeated by chalking out a strong strategy. The question is whether these leaders have such a strategy?" he said.
"There are many leaders who have shown their organisational ability but they have been sidelined as they are not identified with 'influential leaders' in Karnataka. Those who are closely associated with some of the strong leaders have been made observers and given responsibilities. This is not the case of Yellapur alone. This is the case in other constituencies too. We will see the effect of this when the result is out," he added.
