Despite losing twice, former minister Vinay Kulkarni takes on three-time MP Joshi

DHARWAD: The BJP has dominated electoral contests in this constituency, but the Congress has made a bold bet to loosen its hold. The Grand Old Party has fielded former minister Vinay Kulkarni, who had no success in the last Lok Sabha and assembly polls, against sitting BJP MP Pralhad V Joshi. The two politicians are old rivals.
Kulkarni’s candidacy was finalised late, and he is racing against time in Dharwad to consolidate a support base big enough to hurt Joshi and the BJP’s chances.The Lok Sabha seat has been with the BJP since 1996; before delimitation, the constituency was known as Dharwad North. Joshi has completed a hat-trick here — 2004 (Dharwad North), 2009, 2014 — and he’s confident of securing a fourth term. Of the eight assembly segments here, the BJP has presence in five.
The Congress’s decision to pick Kulkarni has upset a section in the minority community. Earlier, the party had reportedly finalised the name of Shakir Sanadi, youth leader and son of former MP IG Sanadi. But some senior Congress leaders, who were apparently worried about Shakir’s rise, proposed his father’s name instead. Finally, the party did not select either of them, and placed its faith in Kulkarni.
Repairing ties with a segment of the traditional voters is not only the challenge before the state Congress unit. It also needs to fill the vacuum created by the recent demise of municipal administration minister and threetime MLA from Kundgol CS Shivalli. The bypoll for this seat is scheduled for May 19.
The BJP is banking on Narendra Modi’s popularity to keep the Congress at bay in Dharwad. But rural voters, who exceed electors in cities and towns, will finally decide the fate of the candidates. In remote villages of Kalghatgi and Shiggaon, the topics of jobs and national security dominate conversations of the youth. In Kalghatgi, residents are unhappy with the way Swachh Bharat Mission has been implemented. “The government asks us to build toilets in our homes, but even after three months of construction, the promised funds have not been sanctioned,” a local said. Mahadayi water sharing is another important issue, but both parties are steering clear of it.
Kulkarni is on an imagebuilding exercise after two setbacks. Last month, a building collapsed in Dharwad, killing over a dozen people. His father-in-law was reportedly a partner in the project. Kulkarni was named in an FIR for allegedly threatening witnesses in a murder case.