Mangaluru: A tough fight is on the cards at the Sullia Constituency in Dakshina Kannada for the upcoming Assembly elections to be held on May 12. For this constituency, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Angara S against the Congress candidate Dr. B Raghu.
Out of the eight constituencies in Dakshina Kannada, Sullia is the only constituency which has been reserved for Scheduled castes. The constituency was reserved for scheduled tribes about 56 years ago in 1962. Earlier, several organisations also petitioned to de-reserve the constituency.
Most of the people in Sullia depend on agriculture for their sustenance. The farmer here cultivate paddy, arecanut, rubber and other crops. The constituency has a total population of 22,42152 including 1,1,354 males and 1,30,798 females. As per the election commission (February 28, 2018) data, there are 97,502 male voters and 97,803 female voters, taking the tally of total voters to 195305 in Sullia Constituency.
Going by the past records, BJP seems to have the upper hand in this constituency. For the past 25 years, BJP has been winning here. Also the 2018 elections will be sixth term for the incumbent BJP MLA Angara S, who has won the previous five elections from this constituency. BJP has won here six times in the past 12 elections held whereas the Congress has won only four times since 1962. Moreover, Congress candidate Dr. Raghu has lost to Angara thrice in the elections held from 2004 to 2013. It is also learnt that RSS activists joined hands with BJP workers and are working constructively in the constituency.
The Congress has won this constituency four times and then Swatantra Party and Janata Party had won once each. In 1989, BJP had fielded Angara S against Congress candidate Kushala but Angara did not win. But in 1994, assembly elections Angara defeated Congress candidate Kushala.
However, Dr. Raghu has been gradually bettering his performance. In 2004 assembly elections, Dr. Raghu had secured 44395 votes, while Angara S had secured 61480. In 2008 assembly elections, Dr. Raghu had secured 56822, while Angara had secured 61144 votes. In 2013 assembly elections, Dr. Raghu had secured 64540 votes, while Angara has secured 65913 votes. In the previous election, Dr. Raghu has lost the elections by a narrow margin of 1373 votes.
The Congress also wants to bank on the anti-incumbency sentiment. The alleged failures of the union government to fulfill its promises made in its election manifesto may prove a boon for the Congress. The party seems to have left no stone unturned to make sure that its candidate wins this elections.
How these complex set of factors will play out, needs to be seen. Only the voter has the answer.
