After 57 years, Congress changes tack in Haveri

HUBBALLI: The Congress has changed its gameplan while selecting a candidate for Haveri Lok Sabha constituency. For the last 57 years, the Congress had opted for

Muslim candidate

for the constituency, but the party has broken with tradition this time around by picking DR Patil.


It has been natural for the Congress to field a Muslim in Haveri, earlier known as Dharwad South Lok Sabha constituency, since the segment was a bastion of the party. The Congress held the seat from 1952 to 1998 — winning all 11

Lok Sabha elections

during this period. The Congress first opted for a Muslim candidate in 1962 when it picked HF Mohsin under the party’s social justice formula. Mohsin represented the segment in the Lok Sabha till 1980, winning five consecutive elections.

Azeez Sait then won on a Congress ticket in 1984, and continuing its tradition of giving the ticket to a Muslim candidate, Congress nominated BM Mujahid in 1989 and 1991, while IG Sanadi won from the constituency in 1996. The Congress nominated Sanadi again in 1998, but for the first time, tasted defeat when BM Menasinkai of Lok Shakti won.

After delimitation in 2008, the BJP wrested Haveri from the Congress. The saffron party has held the seat since. Rattled by repeated defeats, the Congress has now picked Patil, who belongs to the Reddy community, in a bid to win the seat.

“We are hopeful that our plan will help the party win back the seat,” said a senior Congress leader. “We made a change this time, taking the minority community into confidence. If it works out, we will continue to field a non-Muslim in other elections too.”