Serene Uttara Kannada witnesses a high-pitched battle between Hindutva and guarantees

Serene Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency faces political turmoil, environmental challenges, and development issues in upcoming elections.

The serene Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha constituency carries a somewhat contrasting image politically because of the aggressive and inflammatory remarks of its incumbent MP Anantkumar Hegde.

The unique character of this constituency — that has a high percentage of forest cover and rich biodiversity while also housing the Kaiga nuclear power station and prominent hydel generating stations — has been relegated to the background in the din over controversial remarks and counter-offensives by political opponents. Perhaps this explains the reason for the backwardness of this constituency despite having nature’s bounty in terms of rivers as well as famous tourism destinations. The feeling among local residents is that their sacrifice of giving up land for major projects in the interest of the State has not been rewarded well.

This time the BJP has picked the former Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, known as a sober face of the Hindutva ideology, over the Hindutva hardliner and six-time MP Anantkumar Hegde as its candidate. This is perhaps to increase its reach among different cross sections of the constituency.

Mr. Kageri, a six-time MLA and a former Minister who had lost the previous Assembly election, is facing a high-voltage contest from Anjali Nimbalkar of the Congress, an one-time MLA who too lost the previous Assembly polls.

This Lok Sabha seat comprises Sirsi, Yellapur, Kumta, Haliyal, Karwar, and Bhatkal Assembly segments of Uttara Kannada district and Khanapur and Kittur Assembly segments of Belagavi district. While five of these Assembly segments are represented by the Congress, three are being held by the BJP.

Dr. Nimbalkar, who hails from Khanapur, is fighting to shrug off the image of being an “outsider” in Uttara Kannada district by ensuring that veteran Congress leader and localite R.V. Deshpande is part of her campaign.

The BJP got Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself to address a convention here to bolster the campaign of Mr. Kageri.