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UDUPI: Former BJP MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty has decided to contest from Kundapur assembly constituency in the coming election on his own without the support of any political party.

Shetty, who had said that he will not quit BJP, said that he had made the decision after being pressurized by his friends, supporters and well wishers.

District BJP president Uday Kumar Shetty on Tuesday said the party will not support him and will field candidates in all the five assembly constituencies in the district.

Shetty had resigned from the assembly over denial of ministerial berth in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet. The name of the MLA from the coastal town of Kundapur in Udupi district was doing the rounds for a cabinet berth, even an hour before the 34 member Shettar ministry. However, in a surprise, Kota Srinivasa Poojari, hailing from the coastal region and a member of the legislative council, was inducted into the ministry. Shetty had not lobbied for the ministerial berth and was pressurized by MLAs from the region to take up the position.

Shetty was upset over way the entire episode was handled. Shetty had said he was hurt and felt insulted.

Poll off colour in the coast
MANGALORE: There is not even a whiff of poll in the air in the coast with two national and a regional party facing troubles to finalize candidates for the eight assembly constituencies in the district.

Though CPM had announced its candidates for three assembly segments a week ago they too are taking it easy and have not started campaigning in full swing.

CPM Mangalore City South candidate Vasanth Achari said, "Poll campaign will start in earnest after filing the nomination, which should be on April 11. Now the poll committee is being finalized and I’m meeting my well wishers.’’

BJP will kick start its campaign officially on March 29with a rally in the city. Congress is yet undecided on the launch of campaign since it has a real task on its hands to finalize the list. The list may come about by April 1, said Dakshina Kannada district Congress president B Ramanath Rai.

One of the contenders for Mangalore South from Congress said, "It is a real problem since we cannot start the campaign early in right earnest. A first time candidate needs more time to tour the constituency and this dilly-dallying will certainly help other parties."

Meanwhile BJP is also sailing in two boats regarding its Mangalore South candidate. "Though the party may play it safe by fielding Yogish Bhat. However, looking at the winnability factor due to the internal turmoil, a new face also cannot be ruled out,’’ said a BJP source.

J Krishna Palemar, who is certain of being fielded from Mangalore North, says that his campaign has already started through his well wishers. The real campaign will cost money. So we will limit campaigning to a maximum of 10-12 days. Though we don’t have to woo voters through money, the party workers need to be looked after well,’’ he said.

As far as Janata Dal (Secular) is concerned, its internal schisms has seen that it has hit the road block in the initial stage itself and may have little effect on the poll prospects of national parties.