In Beltangady, BJP banks on 35-year-old Poonja to take on veteran Bangera


Stany Bela
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (NDF)

Beltangady, May 10: In seven of the eight constituencies in the district, the BJP candidates are younger than their Congress counterparts. The primary competition in the district is between Congress and BJP. Beltangady is one of the constituencies where senior Congress leader is being challenged by a junior BJP leader. Seventy-three-year-old Vasanth Bangera from Congress is the oldest candidate in the district, while his opponent BJP’s Harish Poonja is the youngest.

Vasanth Bangera, contesting his 9th election, is in the fray against 35-year-old Harish Poonja of the BJP, fighting his first. In 2013 elections, Bangera earned 74,530 votes, while his closest rival the BJP candidate Ranjan G Gowda, son of former MLA Gangadhar Gowda secured 58,789 votes. But in the last five years, there are many significant changes that have happened in the political attire of Beltangady. Political analysts are also struggling to predict a winning possibility because the fight between BJP and Congress is neck to neck.

Congress believes on electoral experience and popularity of Vasanth Bangera.

Bangera won five out of eight elections on BJP, Janata Dal and Congress tickets. This record itself shows his popularity in Beltangady and people’s support to him. His people friendly nature and the efforts to bring funds to the constituency made him very popular. "The party and symbol is not an issue for voters of Beltangady. They only see whether Bangera is contesting or not," says a senior voter from constituency.

"Of course, people are with me and have always put their faith in me during elections. I never did partiality in development projects and never treated any one on the basis of caste, creed or religion. After getting elected, I am a servant of the people of my constituency. I brought maximum funds to my constituency and there is no need for its publicity. People know it very well and they have themselves given publicity to me. I have full faith in them," says Vasanth Bangera.

The election strategy of Congress in Beltangady is mainly based on Bangera’s experience and popularity. Bangera himself lead his campaign team and gave directions to the party workers. In many areas, non party workers also voluntarily campaign for Bangera. Youth Congress and Mahila Congress workers are concentrating on door to door visits while other organizations of party are actively seeking votes for Bangera.

BJP wants to put a break on Bangera’s winning streak by fielding a young candidate.

BJP wants to put a break on Vasanth Bangera’s winning streak through Harish Poonja, a lawyer of High Court and President of Yuva Morcha. Despite his inexperience in electoral politics, Poonja seems to enjoy the trust of the BJP and Sangh Parivar, which appear to believe that he could be the change the people seek and they could be possibly right.

For the past some years, Harish Poonja is active in Beltangady constituency. So majority of voters of this constituency knows him very well. He succeeded to maintain a close relationship with the young generation. His active participation in various events of local youth clubs, social forums made him popular among the youth. As per BJP’s calculation, if new voters and young generation of constituency backed Poonja, victory will be easy.

"Bangera, who was then with the BJP, was young and energetic in 1983 when he entered politics. People wanted a change and voted for him. This time too people want a change and are backing the BJP. It is not so much a case of being anti- Bangera as being pro- Poonja," says a senior citizen of Beltangady.

"Being a Bunt community member, if Harish Poonja succeeds in converting Bunt’s votes into his kitty, we will win the poll with large margin. Union Minister Smriti Irani and Rajnath Singh have already campaigned for our candidate. Expressing their support to Poonja, thousands of supporters, youth joined the procession which was held on nomination filing day. After that, we are feeling entire voters of constituency are planning to bring a change. Definitely, Harish Poonja will give a surprise for district," says a BJP member of the constituency.

As per political analysts, the battle of Beltangady is between the veteran and young, the experienced and the innovative mind. This time people will struggle choosing their representative, because both are eligible to lead them.

 

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Comment on this article

  • Joseph D'Souza, Ujire

    Thu, May 10 2018

    This time it is Poonja. Even Christians here are tired of inactive Bangera.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rodrigues family, Madanthyar

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Mr. Bangera will certainly win.

    We have been praying for the Congress party to win all over Karnataka.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santhu BIRUVE, Mumbai/Udupi

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Its 100% Bangera. If tickets given to any other candidates Instead of bangera than young Pooja has huge chance....BT against bangera it's no chance.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • harish Rai, ujire/Dubai

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Mr.Vasanth Bangera is Mr.Clean , Even he elected 5 times , No assets with him.
    Only have old house.
    he sold around 90 Acres property since last 30 years to serve the society , the property came from his ancestors.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • sudhakar poojary, belapu-kaup

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Dear friends, no more arguments. pls think future development and give vote . this is your decision to whom you vote here no religion or no cate vote for right person. if anybody ask me to whom you vote my answer is from beginning PM modi. jai hind.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • El En Tea, Mumbai

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Age won't count here Experience
    Vasantha Bangers will win in thumping majority.
    Poonja will get communsl minded only RSS votes I say 19000

    DisAgree [9] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stan, Udupi/Dubai

    Thu, May 10 2018

    The anger of Billavas will hurt BJP in DK and udupi districts.Sab ka saath sab ka vikas BY Congress by fielding candidates from all sections of the society in twin districts.

    DisAgree [12] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • marksebastin, bangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    This time our vote goes to BJP , fed up of congress regime

    DisAgree [27] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, karkala

    Thu, May 10 2018

    After all experience matters. No company will hire you if you don't have good working experience.

    Unlike Mr. bangera Union Minister Smriti Irani is not elected people's representative and doesn't even a true qualifications to disclose it.

    It is fact that BJP has brainwashed youths are now more showing signs of 'fanaticism' and more radicalised. But old generations who lived together and shared festivity wanted peace and prosperity.

    BJP candidate Harish Poonja is more connected to the Sangh Parivar rather than citizens of Belthangady. His professional experience as a lawyer only served helping Sangh Parivar members with criminal background.

    Jai Karnataka
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [14] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • KRISHNA, MANGALORE

    Thu, May 10 2018

    like rahul no experience

    DisAgree [10] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • SMR, karkala

    Fri, May 11 2018

    KRISHNA, MANGALORE
    Sir, Mr.Rahul Gandhi is learned from his past experience. He has come out of the image of 'Pappu' to become more 'popular'.
    In other hand PM Modi has lost his sheen.Other than hardcore RSS members and Bhaktas no one India is believing his words are true. His popularity, rating, fan followers all are paid and not an reality.
    Jai Hind

    DisAgree [3] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • NAVEEN, Mangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    This time Harish will win. JAI Modiji....

    DisAgree [30] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mahi, Mangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Most of the congress candidates in DK and Udupi are contesting for 7th or 8th time. When will congress give opportunity to young faces ?

    DisAgree [6] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shammi, Karnataka

    Thu, May 10 2018

    One more kutantra from BaJaPa to sideline Billawas.Karle karle Bhai jitna shakuni ,kaikai banna hain na ban ,May 15 ke baad tum sab ka is karnataka ke kurukshetra se Hindu Mahasagar main dubana.

    Emotionally fooling youngsters by plotting youngster with sirname Poonja.We also trained our youngster what is truth , what is false and what is kutantra.ok

    Shame on you playing caste dirty politics

    No doubt about it .Vasantanna zindabaad.He has magnificently brought change in Belthangady.

    Jai ho

    DisAgree [15] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sharath, Belthangady

    Thu, May 10 2018

    We need well experiance person like Vasanth Bangera . He is always working for poor and aducated persons ,I like his work style. 35-year-old Poonja must take some good experiance from Vasanth Bangera.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Please vote for Honesty ...

    DisAgree [4] Agree [40] Reply Report Abuse

  • Louis Fernandes, Belthangady

    Thu, May 10 2018

    no need long political analysis on Belthangady constituency. People of Belthangady simply vote for vasanth bangera. Cast calculation doesn't work in Belthangady as long as Vasanth bangera is there irrespective of party.

    DisAgree [14] Agree [33] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ivar, Mangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    We need youngsters.

    The old veterans can only lead and show way, but can not achieve do any development works on the ground. The need of the our is Veterans like Modi to lead and youngsters like Poonja on the ground.

    The vice versa will be a disaster.. Rahul leading and Vasanth bangera working!!!

    DisAgree [44] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Reshmi Salian, Mangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    Yediyurappa is a youngster. Modi cannot be CM of Karnataka.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [42] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shan, DXB

    Thu, May 10 2018

    You mean to say Faku is not fit as PM because he is old all most 70s and become blank . so that Rahul will become young PM ............

    DisAgree [16] Agree [30] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Thu, May 10 2018

    We need youngsters like Rahul Gandhi as PM ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • sjesh kumar ck, kakkinje vamanjoor

    Thu, May 10 2018

    belthangady v bangera only 100%

    DisAgree [7] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • SACHIN, Mangalore

    Thu, May 10 2018

    In Beltangady Bangera will win 100%

    DisAgree [16] Agree [56] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: In Beltangady, BJP banks on 35-year-old Poonja to take on veteran Bangera



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