The Congress party’s decision to field Geetha, the wife of the late H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, former Minister, for the Gundlupet by-elections was endorsed by the Gundlupet Taluk Congress Committee. The unit, which held a meeting a few days ago at Gundlupet, has unanimously chosen Geetha Mahadeva Prasad as the party candidate and has recommended that the KPCC field her in the byelections.
Disclosing this to The Hindu here on Tuesday, H.S. Nanjappa, chairman, Cauvery Command Area Development Authority (CADA), and Congress leader, said he had proposed Ms. Geetha’s name and all the leaders of the taluk, who were present at the meeting, endorsed and unanimously chose her as the party candidate for the elections.
Mr. Nanjappa, a prominent Lingayat leader and a close associate of Mahadeva Prasad, was a strong aspirant for the party ticket. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and PWD Minister H.C. Mahadevappa were keen on fielding Geetha for the by-elections. It is said that the CM and the PWD Minister had opted to field Geetha as a poll strategy as they thought she would win because of the sympathy factor. Hence, the CM had appointed Nanjappa a few days ago as the chief of CADA in a bid to pacify him and to avert a possible rebellion in the party. Mr. Nanjappa said that his appointment as the chairman of the CADA was in recognition of his 23 years of service to the party and stated that he was content with the post. He said that he would work hard for the party candidate in the coming byelections.
There are over 210,000 voters in the constituency and Lingayats form the major caste. Over 83,000 Lingayats are in the constituency followed by SCs, Nayakas, Kurubas and Upparas.
