Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Mar 14: The Lok Sabha constituency of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru has gone to the JD (S) party in the deal that was sealed on March 13 between the coalition partners of the state government. However, Congress supporters are disappointed in the district as Congress is stronger compared to JD (S) in this constituency.

The district Congress committees of Udupi and Chikkamagaluru held separate meetings on Wednesday, March 13 and expressed their objection. The participants in the Udupi meeting expressed "What is the point in giving the Lok Sabha seat of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru to JD (S), which does not have a single people's representative in the district?" The same sentiment was also poured out in the meeting of the Congress committee that was held in Chikkamagaluru.

Jayaprakash Hegde has negated the rumours that are making rounds since quite some time that he will be the consensus candidate of Congress and JD (S), in case the seat is given to JD (S) by the Congress. With the denial of Jayaprakash Hegde, now all are curious to know who will contest on the JD (S) ticket from this constituency.

V Dhananjay Kumar, who contested on JD (S) ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, died recently. S L Bhoje Gowda, who was the JD (S) candidate in the 2012 elections, is a MLC now. JD (S) did not contest in the 2009 elections. So now there is a strong rumour that S L Bhoje Gowda will be the probable candidate to be fielded by JD (S). In both the 2012 and 2014 elections, JD (S) stood at the third place.

From 1952 till date Congress was contesting independently from the Udupi Lok Sabha constituency. This is the first time that the Congress will not be fielding its candidate in this constituency.