In a sudden move, Vijayashankar, a two-time MP from Mysore, gave up his hardened stance and acceded to the party's direction to shift to Hassan constituency. Earlier, an utterly dejected Vijayashankar had taken a stand not to contest from Hassan.
Giving vent to his feelings, the former MP had told Business Standard that the choice of Simha would send a wrong signal to the party workers and would affect the party's prospects in the constituency which he had been nursing for the last 25 years as a party worker.
"I am unable to understand the selection of a total stranger. This constituency is a strong turf of the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. But ticket to an outsider will affect the party workers' morale and unity in the constituency," Vijayashankar had said, going to the extent of accusing his party of sidelining backward classes.
By deciding to contest from Hassan, Vijayashankar, an outsider to Hassan like Simha in Mysore, has to face a tough challenge of Janata Dal national leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, besides Congress candidate A Manju, Karnataka Paksha President Ashok Kheny and AAP candidate Santhosh Mohan Gowda.
Deve Gowda has won from his home constituency four times, in 1991, 1998, 2004 and 2009, and tasted a bitter defeat at the hands of his political rival, late G Puttaswamy Gowda in 1999.
While Congress candidate Adagur Viswanath launched his campaign and preparations well ahead, and is continuing with it vigorously, Congress workers are unitedly campaigning for him, Simha has been intensifying his campaign both in Mysore and Kodagu for the last one week.
Reacting to the developments over the ticket issue, BJP leader and former MLC Thontadarya said all the party workers were actively campaigning for Simha in both Mysore and Kodagu districts.
"Our campaign has caught up and is good now. Simha has met key persons in different professions and community leaders. The campaigin is on from morning till night regularly and the response is very favourable too. Accompanied by party workers, Simha canvassed for votes among the morning walkers at Kukkarahalli Tank bund today. Overall, we are impressed of the campaign so far," he told Business Standard today.
As regards Vijayashankar, Thontadarya said Hassan comprised an equal number of 250,000 kuruba community votes on par with Vokkaligas. "We will not be surprised if Vijayashankar wins there," though he is facing Deve Gowda.
While Simha and Viswanath are briskly campaigning, JD(S) is yet to name its candidate with hardly three days left for the last date to file nominations, March 26. It is banking on senior Congress leader C K Jaffer Sheriff's decision, who is upset over denial of party ticket to him and has said he would take a decision after his return from Mecca.
