Jamkhandi, one of the sugarcane-rich taluks of Bagalkot district, is all set to face Assembly byelection following the death of former Union Minister Siddu Nyamgouda in a road accident.
Known for optimum utilisation of the Krishna water made available through the Almatti Dam, Jamkhandi is one of the prosperous taluks of Bagalkot district. Compared to the 2013 Assembly elections in which Congress had won in five of six taluks including Jamkhandi, the party could only win in two constituencies in the elections held earlier this year – one in in Badami where former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah won after a close fight and another in Jamkhandi with Mr. Nyamgouda retaining his seat.
Popular among sugarcane farmers because of his efforts to build a barrage across the Krishna at Chikkapadasalagi village in taluk to irrigate the sugarcane fields solely with public contribution, Siddu Nyamagouda shot to fame in 1989 with the completion of the barrage. Since then, he is fondly referred to as ‘Barrage Siddu’. His accidental demise on May 27 necessitated the bypoll, the dates of which are yet to be announced by the Election Commission. They are tentatively scheduled to be in November and have triggered a flurry of political activities in the taluk.
The Congress seems to have decided to field Anand Nyamgouda, the elder son of the late leader. The BJP is still searching for a candidate. Former MLA Shrikant Kulkarni who lost against Mr. Nyamgouda in the past two elections, and Sangamesh Nirani, brother for former Minister and Bilagi MLA Murugesh Nirani are the two names making rounds in BJP circles. After being denied party ticket, Mr. Sangamesh had contested as an Independent and secured over 24,000 votes. And he is pitted against Mr. Kulkarni for party ticket.
The presence of 20 (of 31) Congress councillors in Jamkhandi Town Panchayat is an added advantage for Congress. Some Independents are likely to chip in for Congress. The JD(S) is unlikely to field a candidate in the bypoll and may instead extend support to its coalition partner.
