Riding on anti-incumbency wave, Congress gears up for a close fight with BJP in Karnataka's Dharwad Rural constituency

DHARWAD: There is a direct fight between Congress and BJP in Dharwad (71) assembly constituency which was called Dharwad Rural constituency before delimitation. It comprises rural parts of Dharwad taluk and seven wards in Dharwad city.
Interestingly, no candidate has won the assembly elections twice in a row in the constituency after 1985. Voters this time are wondering if the jinx will be broken this time.
Incumbent MLA BJP’s Amrut Desai is seeking to be elected again, while former minister and two-time MLA Vinay Kulkarni is contesting on Congress ticket.Basavaraj Korwar filed his nomination as a BJP rebel but with Union minister Pralhad Joshi’s intervention, he withdrew his nomination and extended his support to BJP, bringing huge relief to Desai. Another candidate Tavanappa Astagi who resigned from BJP’s primary membership filed his nomination as a rebel but Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi managed to placate Astagi, who withdrew his nomination in support of Congress candidate Vinay Kulkarni.
For the first time in the history of Dharwad 71 constituency, Congress has launched its campaign without the presence of its candidate Vinay Kulkarni as he is barred from entering Dharwad district by CBI court in connection with ZP member Yogeshgouda Goudar murder case.
If Vinay Kulkarni wins, he is going to set a new precedent in the constituency without his presence in the constituency and will also decide his political career.
Now, Vinay Kulkarni’s wife Shivaleela Kulkarni is leading the campaign in the constituency by holding meetings and rallies in the absence of her husband. Vinay Kulkarni’s children and family members are also campaigning in the constituency. While BJP top leaders are now campaigning seeking votes for BJP’Amrut Desai.
Amrut Desai, who unsuccessfully contested on JD(S) ticket in 2013, joined BJP and won the election on BJP ticket in 2018. Vinay Kulkarni won in 2004 as an independent and also won in 2013 on Congress party’s ticket and became a minister.
The electorate comprises about 80,000 Lingayats, 40,000 Muslims, 22,000 Kurubas and 35,000 Dalit voters.
Shivaleela Kulkarni,wife of Congress candidateVinay Kulkarni told TOI: "I am planning campaigning activities with our senior leaders and chalking out voter outreach plans. People are now supporting us and also feel that my husband should win the election to solve their problems," she said. Vinay Kulkarni is also releasing short videos appealing voters to elect him. He is also interacting with voters via video calls since he is barred from entering the district.
“This segment is facing a plethora of problems. There is an acute drinking water supply problem. Many lakes have not been desilited by the sitting MLA. There are no good connecting roads to farmers’ fields. The incumbent MLA is facing anti-incumbency wave as he has not worked to develop the constituecy and has not been accessible,” said Ishwar Shivalli, president of Congress rural block, Dharwad.
BJP candidate Amrut Desai said: “There is no anti-incumbency factor as I have built roads, compensated more than 3,500 rain-hit people who lost houses, desilted lakes and solved Tuparihalla flood issue. All these will help me win the election.”