The election fever is at an all-time high in the Mangalore North constituency erstwhile Suratkal. Though on the outside everything is calm and quiet without the presence of colourful banners and posters, the candidates here are seen visiting house-to-house seeking precious votes.

Two prominent figures are in the race for capturing the seat here. Krishna Palemar who won the previous election with BJP ticket beating Vijay Kumar Shetty of Suratkal by a good margin, is seeking another victory from the same place for the second time. A popular entrepreneur, Palemar is widely known as an all-community man, as many minority groups are seen accompanying him on his campaigns.

On the other hand Moidin Bava, another entrepreneur has got the ticket from Congress by beating his competitors within the party Rakesh Malli and Vijaya Kumar Shetty.

Team Daijiworld reached Gurpur to meet Moidin Bava where he was supposed to address a party workers' meet along with Janardhan Poojary, B A Moidin, Vijaya Kumar Shetty and others.

He spared a few minutes to talk to Daijiworld exclusively about the progress of his campaign:

'I have covered almost 50% of the constituency by walking to each and every house. I walk about 30 km per day campaigning and I have been welcomed by villagers with love and full assurance of their votes. There are lots of developmental works to be done within this constituency. The previous people's representative from here (Palemar) has done nothing for the poor people. I have taken the challenge to work for the poor in this region. I have a large number of youth followers in this constituency. I think I have a fair chance to win the election from here.'

Moidin's confidence is high and his speech full of hopes.

'Many people from this region have sacrificed their lands for developmental work, for example people gave-up land for Mangaolore Port, MRPL, Mangalore Airport and many other governmental projects. Though these people were re-located to other places like Katipalla and others, they have been deprived of basic needs. I too had sacrificed my land for the construction of Mangalore Port, so I know the sufferings of these people, such as absence of drinking water facility. I have taken an oath for the welfare of these people and I will work towards fulfiling it, whether I win or not,' says Moidin concerned for the people who sacrificed their lands for developmental projects.

'BJP-JDS government was a big failure and never worked for the poor. There are no street lights in many important places here, and though money has been released for building free houses for the poor, the work has not yet begun. They have been deprived of all such government facilities,' he said.

Speaking on the support from his own party members, he said, 'Before the allocation of Congress ticket there was some difference of opinion between three-four leaders. But now that the ticket has been allocated to me, everything is settled. Rakesh Malli and Vijay Kumar Shetty are working for my victory and are also canvassing. There is no internal difference at all.'

Moidin is expecting Congress victory not only from his constituency but also in the entire state. Congress will win and come to power, he says confidently.

Krishna Palemar:

Krishna Palemar does not look like a typical politician - he looks less aggressive, speaks less but has the quality of a wise leader.

'Palemar is easily accessible to the public whether he is an MLA or not,' says one of his supporters.
Team Daijiworld met him near SC colony in Vamanjoor, where he was addressing a few scheduled caste families. In the middle of the stage programme, he responded to our approach and spoke exclusively for Daijiworld about his election campaign.

'I think I will win this election with a much bigger margin than last time. The response is overwhelming wherever I go,' says a confident Palemar.

'You media people can see for yourself - even people from the minority communities are joining BJP; in the last two days more than 200 Muslims joined BJP.'

Asked whether he has any internal difference with the party workers, he said, 'I am a non-controversial candidate as no one else vied for ticket from here. The entire party and block units are with me. BJP Yuva Morcha is taking a lot of interest and they are campaigning for me.'

He rejected the allegation levelled by Congress that he has done nothing for the constituency. 'I laughed when I heard from Congress members I have not done anything for the people here during my tenure. I do not need their certificate for my work. People know my achievements. During my tenure I released crores of rupees for Nandini river and built seven dams, which have catered to the need for drinking water and water for agriculture.  Ten villages in my constituency have benefited from this. I have released Rs 10 crore for city corporation development work. You can see around Suratkal that the work is in progress.'

'I have also sanctioned Rs 5 crore for Suratkal market which was under pathetic condition. Neither the previous Congress MLA nor government bothered to look in to such basic needs.'

'During my tenure four high schools, one college and one primary school started functioning within our constituency. Look at the past 50-year governance wherein just 50 anganavadis existed in my constituency. I initiated education for poor children and granted establishment of 75 anganavadis within three-and-half years,' Palemar proudly says.

'You show me any elected representative who initiated the grant for temples, mosques and churches. But I have done this in a short span. I think Congress is too blind to accept this truth and that's why they are mudslinging at me.'

'Congress era is gone, and I do not think they will even retain what they had achieved last time. BJP will get a clear majority this time and we will form a government in the state.'

Though he has several achievements to his credit and has an equally strong opposition from Congress and JDS, one thing we must admit is that he is a man accepted by Hindus, Christians and Muslims in the region. This fact may prove a big hurdle to Moidin, his counterpart from Congress.

But you never know, for after all, the final decision is in the hands of the people. Only May 25 can bring an answer for such speculations.

Also see:

Krishna Palemar to Take on Moidinn Bawa in M’lore North