Mandya set for a straight fight again after eight months

Intense poll battle is on between actor-turned-politician Ramya and lorry-driver-turned politician C.S. Puttaraju

After eight months, yet again a straight electoral battle between the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) is on the cards in the Mandya parliamentary constituency.

Sixteen candidates are in the fray in the constituency that is spread over eight Assembly segments, and an intense poll battle is on between actor-turned-politician Ramya and lorry-driver-turned politician C.S. Puttaraju. The duo had fought the byelection in August last in which Ms. Ramya had won by a margin of 67,611 votes.

The Mandya Lok Sabha constituency, a bastion of the Congress, was snatched by the Janata Dal (Secular) a few years back. Ms. Ramya, whom her opponents termed “a child in politics” last year, re-established the supremacy of the Congress in the region by winning the byelection. But, indications are that it is not going to be an easy win for her this time as anti-party activities and internal bickering are haunting the Congress.

Amid clashes between supporters of the former External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Housing Minister M.H. Ambareesh, Ms. Ramya is facing a stiff challenge from JD(S) candidate Mr. Puttaraju.

She has already visited more than 1,000 villages besides spending her own money to construct roads and toilets, donate ambulances, tricycles, and laptops and shoes to students.

Mr. Puttaraju is banking on the traditional JD(S) votes. His name has been linked with the illegal site allotment case by the Mandya Urban Development Authority. The Criminal Investigation Department is investigating the case. Also, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, which is supporting the Congress, has been demanding action against Mr. Puttaraju for “allegedly conducting blasts near the Krishnaraja Sagar.” Mr. Puttaraju has a stone quarrying unit. These issues may result in JD(S) losing its traditional votes in Pandavapura and Srirangapatna regions.

Vokkaligara Sangha vice-president B. Shivalingaiah, who owns educational institutions, took the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party merely a few days before filing his nomination papers. His wife, Meera Shivallingaiah, is president of the Mandya District Kannada Sahitya Parishat. Her popularity in the district may bring him some votes.

Candidates such as M. Krishnamurthy (Bahujan Samaj Party), Krishnamurthy (Republican Party of India), C.S. Hanumanthappa (Aam Aadmi Party) and Arunakumar (Independent) could become threats for the Congress and the JD(S) candidates.

Development issues

Candidates of the Congress, the JD(S) and the BJP, during electioneering, say they are aware of the irrigation, agriculture and infrastructure problems in the constituency, and they would solve them if elected.