Hubballi: Former MP Manjunath Kunnur has announced his decision to contest as an independent candidate from the Dharwad Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Kunnur, who is currently in the Congress party, stated that he had sought a ticket to contest the Lok Sabha elections from either this seat or Haveri-Gadag. However, the party denied him the ticket and fielded new faces.
He expressed his intention to run as an independent candidate to protest against the injustice perpetrated by both the Congress and the BJP. Kunnur pointed out that both parties had nominated family members of elected representatives denying ticket to experienced candidates or youth.. He added that his decision to contest the election was taken following suggestions of various seers from different mutts and Lingayat leaders.
When asked if he would still contest from the seat if Fakira Dingaleshwar Swamiji of Shirahatti’s Bhavaikya Mutt decided to enter the election fray from the Dharwad seat, Kunnur stated that he would step back and extend his support to him.
The political landscape in the Dharwad Lok Sabha constituency is heating up. If Manjunath Kunnur runs as an independent candidate or Dingaleshwar Swamiji decides to contest, there is a possibility of Veerashaiva Lingayat votes being split. The impact of this split on the chances of Congress candidate Vinod Asuti or Union Minister Pralhad Joshi remains to be seen.
