BJP vs Congress; Close contest in Sullia

Sullia: Sullia is seeing a lot of competition between BJP and Congress this legislative assembly elections.

Surrounded by Kadaba, Beltangady and Puttur taluks, Sullia has been a BJP stronghold for the past 25 years. Previously, BJP candidate S Angara secured a win by a small margin of 1,373 votes. BJP, which enjoyed a massive support during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is hoping for a big win again.

A changing trend among voters is making Congress confident of a victory this time. The fight in Sullia will be among candidates of three national parties and three independent candidates. BJP’s S Angara, Congress’ Dr Raghu, BSP’s Raghu Dharmasena and independent candidates including Sanjay, Sundar and Chandrashekar.

Congress and BJP have already finished two rounds of campaigning. The national-level BSP-JD(S) alliance has given a BSP candidate an opportunity to contest the elections. Despite the alliance, JD(S) leaders are not campaigning along with BSP so far. However, both the parties held a joint meeting and decided that they would help each other with campaigning since they are contesting the elections together.

Sanjay, an independent candidate, has begun campaigning supported by Misalathi Mukthi Horata Samiti. He has been highlighting the problems of the constituency that need to be addressed with the help of loudspeakers, and is organizing ‘Corner Sabhas’ everywhere.

SDPI, which managed to get the minority community’s votes, are not in the race this time, making the prospects for Congress look much better. There are 22,500 new voters in the constituency.

The BJP sitting MLA has been going door-to- door promising the electorate the benefits a Modi- Yeddyurappa government will bring about.

Congress on the other hand, has been highlighting the failures of the five-time BJP MLA, and promised electricity and proper roads.

“In the past five terms, the BJP MLA has made no major infrastructural development. Although I lost last time, I have responded to the problems of the people of the constituency as much as I could. The voters of the constituency want a change this time and will make the Congress win. This time victory is ours,” said Dr Raghu, Congress candidate.

BJP’s S Angara, said, “People have seen the development that I have brought about in five terms as MLA. The benefits of CM candidate B S Yeddyurappa and PM Narendra Modi government are a further boost to a BJP victory. It is definite that the voters will make us win by maximum margin because of the development works I have undertaken here.”

“There are many basic problems in the constituency. Congress and BJP which have represented this constituency for a long time have not met the demands of people. There are no job opportunities for the youth here. People who are suffering because of this fruitless tenures of Congress and BJP, will give BSP a chance this time,” says Raghu Dharmasena, BSP candidate.