Vijayapura: As the campaign for MLC elections for the North-West Teachers’ Constituency reaches its last leg and polls are to be held on June 13, the contest is going to be a triangular one as three candidates are giving tough fights.
While BJP candidate, Arun Shahapur is wishing to win for the third term to create a hat-trick, the veteran Congress leader and Former Minister, Prakash Hukkeri gives a tough fight to the BJP candidate. Independent candidate N. B. Bannur who is contesting as an independent candidate is also leaving no stone unturned in the campaign. Bannur was hoping to secure a Congress ticket as he is believed to be close to the Leader of the Opposition, Siddaramaiah. But since the party chose Hukkeri over him, Bannur decided to contest as a rebel candidate.
Having contested twice in the past and losing the election by a small margin, Bannur is testing his luck again. He claims that a significant number of teachers are with him in the polls as he has been actively working for teachers’.
Shahapur who is campaigning hectically to win their term, apparently facing some anti-incumbency as he has been in power for the last 12 years.
However, he claims that since he has worked for the teachers extensively and raised their issues in the council on regular bases, the teaching fraternity is with him.
Several state and national leaders including Prahalad Joshi, B. S. Yediyurappa and several MPs, MLAs and other leaders have been campaigning for Shahapur.
The BJP leaders are saying that since the BJP government has recently hiked the salaries of guest lecturers, it has been a boost to the party’s prospects in the elections.
Hukkeri who is a seasoned politician of the Belagavi District, is a known personality in the political and general arena. Having contested in Assembly polls for five terms and also served as MP, Hukkeri is giving a tough fight to Shahapur.
Hukkeri is getting support from Siddaramaih, M. B. Patil and Congress MLAs who are holding rallies for Hukkeri.
