MANGALORE: Mangalore South still remains a tricky affair for Congress even after the announcement of a candidate because of rebellion and the party has its hands full in three other constituencies too. Multiple aspirants in the Mangalore North, Kaup and Puttur assembly segments are posing a problem for the Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) in finalising a consensus candidate.
According to the social engineering formula worked out in the past polls in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts, tickets were given to three Billava, three Bunts, two Muslims; and one ticket each to candidates from Mogaveera, Christian, Jain, scheduled caste and backward communities.
The high command and local leaders are trying to stick to the same formula and it is turning out to be a messy affair in the three above mentioned constituencies.
This time, there is a broad thinking to field a woman candidate and the two constituencies considering for it are Mangalore North and Puttur. Bondala Jangnnath Shetty, a Bunt, who contested from Puttur died in an accident last year. So Shakuntala Shetty’s name is doing the rounds for the seat.
But insiders say that the party think tank is planning on giving the ticket to a Gowda, Bharath Mundodi, a popular zilla panchayat member. Vinaya Kumar Sorake from Puttur, it is said, was not too inclined to contest from Puttur and was keen on Kaup constituency.
In Mangalore North already trouble is brewing with two Bunts and a Muslim vying for the ticket. In the fray for the ticket are businessman BA Mohiudeen Bava, who lost last time, K Vijay Kumar Shetty, two-time MLA and Kripa Alva.
Whereas Kaup is a difficult proposition with at least eight aspirants including MA Gafoor, Sorake, Suresh Shetty and Sarasu Bangera among others are vying for the ticket.
Congress leader B Janardhan Poojary washed his hands of trying to solve this last riddle saying that the matter is with the CEC. “All CEC has to do is select a consensus candidate,” he added.
