By M. Gautham MachaiahGossip mills run overtime during the election season. With Karnataka going to the polls in May 2008, speculation is rife that State Congress President Mallikarjun M. Kharge may contest from Pulakeshinagar (erstwhile Bharatinagar) in Bangalore, instead of his traditional stronghold, Gurmitkal in Gulbarga district.
Gurmitkal which was hitherto reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates has now been converted to a General constituency, with the re-drawing of the State’s political map by the Election Commission. Bharatinagar which was a General constituency, in its new avatar as Pulakeshinagar is reserved for SC.
Kharge is the undisputed king of Gurmitkal, having won eight elections in a row from 1972. With Gurmitkal now being thrown open to General candidates, Congress circles are abuzz with rumours that he has zeroed in on Pulakeshinagar.
However, such assumptions may be based on misconceptions. There is no bar on an SC candidate contesting from a General constituency. Thus, Kharge can continue to contest from Gurmitkal even under the changed circumstances.
With Kharge holding sway over this constituency for nearly four decades, there are not many who can take on him. Besides, with Gurmitkal being a Reserved constituency right from the first elections to date, it may be difficult to find a General candidate of Kharge’s stature.
Thus, the rumours not withstanding, Gurmitkal continues to be a safe bet for the Congress leader. But in politics, nothing is impossible. Time is the best judge. Until then, let us keep our fingers crossed.
1 comment:
Gurmitkal reminds me of CET selections of yore. If an SC candidate scored well enough to match that of a General Merit candidate, he is considered General Merit candidate, and the seat he claimed earlier would go to another SC candidate. Same holds here. Having won elections infinite times, Kharge is strong enough to contest as a general merit candidate. He does not need reservation benefits!
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