BJP's Mahesh Tenginkai expresses confidence of defeating Jagadish Shettar

Mahesh Tenginkai, who replaced six-time MLA Jagadish Shettar as a BJP candidate in the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency seat, has expressed confidence in emerging victorious in his maiden MLA election.

"BJP wants the new generation to enter politics. I am confident of winning from Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency seat...Caste should not be an agenda in politics. BJP works as per 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'," ANI quoted Tenginkai as saying.

Mahesh Tenginkai is a prominent leader of the Lingayat community. Like Shettar, he too has a stronghold in the Hubli-Dharwad region.

He has been associated with the BJP for over two decades and held various positions in the party organisation. A businessman and social worker, he too has a strong organisational backing.
Hence, the contest between the two is predicted to be a close one.

Jagadish Shettar had associated with the BJP for decades. However, he was denied a ticket this time although he won the seat in the last six elections by a big margin.

Upset with the party, Shettar, who has been a staunch critic of the Congress, joined the grand old party on Monday.

The senior leader on Tuesday held National General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party BL Santhosh responsible for missing the BJP ticket to contest in the upcoming election from the Hubli-Dharwad Central constituency.

"My name was in the list sent by the core committee. I don't know what happened in the Central Election Committee meeting. If they had offered me some other position earlier respectfully, I would have accepted it. BL Santhosh is the main reason for missing the ticket. For some people, the party is not important but individuals are. To disturb one seat, you destroyed the party," News9 quoted Shettar as saying.

He expressed his unhappiness over the BJP treating him "like a kid." "Dharmendra Pradhan called me and said that I will not get a ticket. He said that he will send a form and asked me to sign it. He treated me like a child. I have won elections six times," the former Chief Minister said.

The constituency has 2,48,904 voters (Male: 126255 and 122620 and others: 29). It has the 74,000 Lingayats, 23,000 Muslim, 18,000 SC, 29,000 Somavamshi Kshatriyas, 11,000 Brahmins and 25,000 others).