Report and Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SP)
Mumbai, Oct 22: The Congress-NCP combine has risen to power in Maharashtra by securing the winning numbers in the Maharashtra assembly elections again. The Congress Party expects to bag the post of the Chief Minister, as in the past.
Several Tulu-Kannadigas were in the fray in the assembly elections, from the constituencies within and bordering the metro. Congress-NCP-RPI combine candidates Suresh Shetty (presently minister of state for medical education and representing Andheri (east) constituency), Krishna B Hegde (Vile Parle (east), Jagannath K Shetty (present MLA Sion-Koliwada), BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidate, Gopal C Shetty (current MLA from Borivli (west), president of BJP Mumbai Pradesh) and Gilbert John Mendonca (Mira-Bhayander) have registered thumping victories in their respective constituencies.
Gopal Shetty, Jagannath Shetty and Krishna Hegde
Suresh Shetty and Gilbert Mendonca
The leaders from coastal Karnataka have over the decades, imprinted their indelible influence on the political scenario in the city, and their victory has deservingly come to them. The Kannadigas have been serving political, economic, educational, religious and several other social sectors and have made unique contributions, earning their rightful places as leaders in the state. At the same time, they have nurtured their culture of the homeland here and have contributed immensely for the Kannada culture, language and traditions to flourish here.
Suresh Shetty (Congress): He is originally from Manipal-Manipura in Udupi district. He entered politics during his student days through NSUI. He shouldered various responsibilities in the Congress Party and after his first victory in the election, bagged the post of the minister of state. He may bag the cabinet berth this time.
Jagannath K Shetty (Congress): He is from Kaup in Udupi district. He had fought from Sion-Koliwada for the second time.
Gopal C Shetty (BJP): He had entered the fray from Borivli constituency for the second time and became victorious. He is the only Kannadiga to have become the deputy mayor of the metro. He is efficient organizer. He is from Padubidri – Santoor.
Krishna B Hegde: Hegde is from Bola Marimaruguttu, Karkala – Nitte. He is the son of the late Bola Sripad Hegde, who was a veteran Congress leader in Maharashtra and son-in-law of Ramesh Prabhu (ex-MLA from Shiv Sena and former mayor of Mumbai).
Gilbert John Mendonca (NCP): Gilbert Mendonca has won from Mira-Bhayander constituency. He was the first municipal president of Mira-Bghayander. He has always maintained close proximity to Tuluvas, Kannadigs and Konkans of the city. Mira Road, widely known as Mini Mangalore, has a sizeable population of Mangaloreans. Mendonca, who has been active in politics since the last three decades, is one of the few influential leaders from the constituency. His family is active in politics and his wife too had served as the president of Mira-Bhayander municipality.