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February 10, 1998

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Home turf is ready for campaign, but Deve Gowda isn't home yet

E-Mail this story to a friend It may be his home turf, but former prime minister H D Deve Gowda is finding the political pace quite tough in Hassan, this small Karnataka constituency where he is looking for a second stint to the Lok Sabha.

Deve Gowda, who hails from Hardanahalli, is engaged in a fierce battle with his former confidante, Congress nominee H C Srikantaiah who has the support of a good number of the former PM's detractors. Foremost among them is state minister G Putteswamy Gowda.

In 1989, Deve Gowda won the Hassan seat on the Samajwadi Janata Party ticket. Despite being a Janata Dal nominee in the Rajya Sabha, he has chosen to enter the fray again.

Though his 'humble farmer' image still holds a considerable sway in the land of coffee and potato, stiff opposition leaves him no room for complacency. Both he and Srikantaiah belong to the dominant Vokkaliga community. While Deve Gowda appears to have a slight edge in Holenarsipur, from where he won successive assembly elections between 1962 and 1985, his rival has the upper hand in his home town, Chennarayapatna.

Also in the race is Susheela Shivappa, former Bharatiya Janata Party women's wing state president and senior party leader B B Shivappa's wife, who lost twice from the constituency. The Bahujan Samaj Party's M D Gangaiah, allied with former chief minister S Bangarappa's Karnataka Vikas Party, and U M Komalatha (Independent) are the other candidates.

Putteswamy Gowda, who hails from Holenarsipur, has the potential to tilt the scales against Deve Gowda. He has sunk his differences with Srikantaiah to deny any advantage to the 'humble farmer'.

The Congress, meanwhile, is trying another ploy. It has roped in Basave Gowda, Deve Gowda's younger brother, taking advantage of a family conflict. However, Hardanahalli and Hale Kotte natives say this will not make any dent in Deve Gowda's prospects.

A major complaint about Deve Gowda is that he did not deliver anything concrete to the people during his days at the helm. However, this is offset by the sense of pride which the mannina maga (son of the soil) brought them by ascending to the prime minister's office. Observers see this sentiment as a very positive point of Deve Gowda's candidature.

Interestingly, Deve Gowda is yet to start campaigning in the constituency, being on tour to various parts of the country trying to garner support for the United Front. As of now, he has left the arena to his son and state Housing Minister H D Revanna. He is expected to start canvassing from February 13.

Meanwhile, the BJP has been steadily making its presence felt in the constituency. Besides a significant presence in Sakleshpur, the party has segments of supporters in Hassan town, Arsikere, Belur and Sharavanabelagola.

Shivappa who is overseeing his wife's campaign, claims the party has been getting 'tremendous' response. In Hassan, women outnumber men, forming a little over 50 per cent of the 1.17 million electorate. The BJP is targeting them, he said.

Campaign managers for all three contenders say the Muslims, who constitute nearly 150,000 of the electorate, will be the deciding factor.

Paramilitary forces can be seen in Sakleshpur, Chennarayapatna and Holenarsipur. Officials said the BJP has demanded additional forces to be deputed in Hassan.

Hassan, observers say, will come alive only when Deve Gowda steps into the ring.

UNI

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