The Lok Sabha elections are likely to witness a straight fight between at least three new faces in the Congress and heavyweights from other parties who have dominated the constituencies for several terms.
In Bangalore South, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, a political novice who was not even a member of the Congress till his candidature was announced, has been fielded against the Bharatiya Janata Party’s national general secretary and five-time MP Ananth Kumar.
Similar is the case of the former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Manjunath Bhandary, who has been fielded against the former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa in Shimoga.
“This is the first election of my life. I have been in the National Students’ Union of India, Youth Congress, and got nominated as All-India Youth Congress general secretary. I had been serving as KPCC general secretary and will now fight an election,” Mr. Bhandary told The Hindu .
Although Yogesh H.C., son of the former legislator Chandrashekarappa, and the former Minister Kumar Bangarappa were also in the race to contest from Shimoga, Mr. Bhandary’s candidature was considered.
Bangalore CentralIn Bangalore Central, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s intention to infuse young blood into politics has worked out.
Although Rizwan Arshad, the party’s candidate for this constituency, is not new to electoral politics, this is a big leap for him — from State Youth Congress elections to the Lok Sabha polls. He will be taking on incumbent BJP MP P.C. Mohan.
