Former ministers ace acid test inMysore district

Mysore, May 6 (UNI) Two former ministers -- G T Deve Gowda of the BJP and H Vishwanath belonging to the Congress will face an acid test in Hunsur and K R Nagra segments in this district which goes to polls in the first phase to be held on May 10.

Mr Gowda, the former Cooperation minister in H D Kumaraswamy ministry had long known as the strong community based leader of the JD(S) in the district and was a force behind the party's success in the 2004 elections.

Bur now he is fighting the elections representing the saffron party after resigning from the Devegowda-led party protesting against its 'betrayal' of the BJP by not handing over the chief Minister's post to the saffron party.

For Mr Vishwanath, an old guard of Congress, this is going to be his last fight at the hustings. In an emotional outburst he had told the voters that this would be his last elections. Despite losing the election in 2004, he had remained in the limelight throughout and successfully netted the party ticket.

Mr Gowda, is involved in a triangular contest face H P Manjunath of the congress and S Chikkamadu of JD(S).

The voters of Hunsur, who had returned the former Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs for six successive terms from 1952 to 1978.

They are known for shifting political loyalty with Congress, BJP and parties belonging to Janata Parivar tasting success in this segment known as tobacco barn of Karnataka due to large scale cultivation of flue-cured variety tobacco which enjoys high demand in international market.

The constituency with 1.86 lakh voters, which has largely remained untouched in the delimitation exercise, however has not elected a Congress candidate since 1991.

It consists of Vokkaliga community in large numbers and the other community voters are Naiks, Kurabas, Dalits and Muslim voters.

In K R Nagara, known as the rice bowl of the district Mr Vishwanath also locked in a triangular contest with s r Mahesh of JD(S) and BJP's k c Puttasidashetty.

Voters in this segment expect a close finish involving the trio.

It is home for people mainly from Vaokkaligas, Kurubas, Dalits, Naiks and Lingayats.

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