Interesting contest on the cards in Belgaum North

Source: The Hindu
All major parties have fielded their nominees here
Two-time MLA Ramesh L. Kudachi is the Janata Dal (S) candidate

Sait is the first-ever Muslim to be fielded by the Congress in Belgaum (Belgaum North)
Belgaum: All eyes are on Belgaum North constituency, where all major parties have fielded their candidates.

But what makes it more interesting is the presence of MES rebel Ramesh Gangaram Pawale and Rashtriya Hindustan Sena candidate Vilas Ramachandra Pawar. The people of the constituency are equally curious about the prospects of Janata Dal (Secular ) candidate and two-time MLA Ramesh L. Kudachi, who quit the Congress after being denied the ticket.
Mr. Kudachi told The Hindu that he had no option but to quit as he had been sidelined in the Congress.

He joined the Janata Dal (S) and entered the poll fray to show that the Congress was “weak” without him in the party.
His presence has become a thorn in the flesh of Congress candidate Feroz Nooruddin Sait.

However, the realisation of the objective of Mr. Kudachi, who belongs to the Kurbar community, depends largely on the number of votes he would get from the Muslim community, which supported him in the 1999 and 2004 elections.

But, Mr. Kudachi has not lost hopes completely and feels that a section of Marathi-speaking voters would support him. Mr. Kudachi was the first-ever Kannada speaking candidate to defeat the MES in the erstwhile Belgaum City Assembly constituency.

Mr. Sait is the first-ever Muslim to be fielded by the Congress in Belgaum (Belgaum North).
The BJP is hoping to do well in Belgaum North.Weak candidate

Though its candidate and former chairman of Belgaum Urban Development Authority Shankargowda Patil is considered relatively weak when compared to others in the fray, party leaders say the situation is fast turning in his favour.

In addition to support from his own Lingayat community, the party expects the support of all Kannada organisations.

Though the former Mayor and MES candidate Vijay Pandurang More is regarded as a “good person” by all communities in the light of his work, his caste (SC) has turned out be an obstacle for him.

Many feel that all Marathas, who are in substantial numbers in the constituency and are traditional supporters of MES, may not support Mr. More.

But, he too is confident that these voters and a section of the Kannada and Urdu-speaking voters would support him.Pawale firm
Efforts of the MES central leadership have failed to convince Mr. Pawale to withdraw from the fray.
Also, Mr. More’s problems have only aggravated due to the presence of Mr. Pawar, who is also a Maratha.
In the last elections, Mr. Pawar contested on the BJP ticket and lost to Mr. Kudachi by a margin of 1,017 votes.

Interestingly, the Bahujan Samaj Party’s candidate, whose profile is much better than any other candidate in the fray, is also hopeful of doing well.

Local issues not raised

AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has said that BJP is not having any topics to speak against UPA government except terrorism.

Addressing a huge election campaigning meeting at Beynon Smith C P Ed college ground here on Sunday , Rahul said that BJP do not have morality to speak anything about terrorism as every one knows what had happened in Kashmir when BJP led NDA government was in power in Centre. He also said that people of the nation have not forgotten the incident of freeing a Afghani terrorist by dropping him till Kandhahar accompaning him with the Union Home Minister Jaswant Singh. `Since this is the situtaion, what morality BJP have to speak against UPA government,' Rahul questioned.
Rahul called people to vote for Congress for the development and better future of the nation.

Rahul who explained the developmental works done when Congress was ruling the state appealed the people to elect Congress government for the better future of their children's life.

Rahul lauded former Chief Minister S M Krishna who had shared the dias with him over the developmental and pro-people works done during his tenure said that Karnataka was India's future when Krishna led Congress government was in rule.

Karnataka missed the track of development during the term of JD(S)-BJP government.

He termed the last coalition government as the opportunalistic and described the coalition government as an unscientific government.
Source:the New Indian Express

We do not seem to understand the logic of all political parties in this present election. All have been speaking about national issues. Congress says BJP does not have any morality to speak about terrorism and the BJP says vice versa.
Why does not any party speak what they would like to do for Belgaum (in this context when all had gathered in Belgaum) all say you vote for us, as we would be able to give you a stable govt. and do what with that stable govt. put pickles or make biryani. This is a local MLA election and we had thought in the election the local issues should have come up. Nevertheless, who cares? Kiske Baap jata hai?
We wanted to know what our elected representatives would do for us. Nobody said anything. Therefore, whom should we vote for a stable Govt? All the parties said the will give a stable govt. who will give even the Gods do not know.
What do you all think about this? Nobody spoke of airport expansion or textile hub or even the software park. We here just speak and forget it. This is what democracy is?
Share your thoughts…

Caste Equations will play their Roles

Source: Biddu This story has been written by Biddu for this blog.

But for a few aberrations in the history of Indian elections, caste has been all the more dominate in deciding the prospects of political parties and contesting candidates. Those who value of caste and work out have always gained. This has been proved time and again, as elsewhere in the country and state, in Belgaum too.

With or without issues pertaining to development and progress, caste remains omnipotent in this election too. Ultimately, as the candidates fail to impress the electorate or elevate their voting-conscience above caste and religion based voting, they are back to same old game of consolidating the vote-banks on basis of caste and religion. The composition of caste, they know, would be ultimate in deciding their future at the hustings. That's why, a candidate told Biddu here on Wednesday, all political parties invariably look into the caste and sub-caste before announcing their candidature.

In the three assembly constituencies of Belgaum North, Belagum and Belgaum Rural, the future of the candidates in the fray is depends on how the individual caste group will vote. But, not candidate can afford to ignore the major caste such as Lingayats, Marathas, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Muslims and Jains, which are bound to play crucial role in these elections too.

According to one estimate obtained from a government department by Biddu, of the total electoral college constituting of 1,77,320 in BN the presence of lingayats is highest and account for 52,000 electorates, followed by the Marathas whose strength is 38,000. The Muslims for the third highest voter population with 40,000 followed by SCs-15,000, STs-11,000, Jain-8000, Bhrahim-4000, Kurbar-2000, Devang-3000, Maheswari(Marwari)-1000, Kankani-1000 and Others-2320.

Similarly, in Belgaum South, the composition shows that Marathas dominate the constituency with 50,000 voters followed by Jains, which account for 21,000. The lingayat constitute 16,000; Muslim, SC and Devang-15,000 each, ST-6000, Brahmin-10,000, Maheshwari-7000, Kurbar-5000, Konkani-6000, Savaji(Kshatriya)2000, Hanabar-1000 and Others-11,030. The total voters in the constituency are 1,800,30.

In Belgaum South having 1,87,025 voters, Maraths are in highest number, about 70,000. The lingayats form the second highest voter population followed by Muslims, about 6,000. The strength of voters belonging to other castes are SC-14,000; ST-13,500, Jain-7000, Brahmin-2000, Kurbar-4000, Hanabar-7,800, Devang-1,824, and Others-1901.

If these figures are any indication, the contesting candidates belonging to either of these castes or religious communities can very well guess about their prospects, even while pinning their hopes on some support from sympathetic individuals belonging to caste(s) other than their own.

Various Party stalwarts in town for the last phase of campaigning

Party stalwarts and party campaigners are coming to Belgaum to woe the voters to vote for their party.
Yesterday Mayawati of the BSP held a rally in the district stadium in the afternoon and Narendra Modi took a rally at the Sardar's Ground in the evening.

Today evening Rahul Gandhi will address a rally at CPEd. Ground. L K Advani will address one in Khanapur.

What they spoke was nothing new. Same, old wine in a new bottle.

However, one good thing is that we Belgaumites could see these stalwarts in real.
The last days of campaigning are here & all are trying their tricks.
I take this opportunity to ask all the readers of this blog "TO COME OUT & VOTE" Whom you vote are not my problem. Vote for a person who is deserveable.

Know your Candidates for Belgaum North,South & Rural

Here are the links to the various affidavits filed by the candidates for the election.
Please click on the Candidate's Name to see the affidavits filed by him/her.

Belgaum Uttar
KUDACHI RAMESH LAXMAN
DR. NADAF RASULSAB YAMANAPPA
FEROZ NURUDDIN SAIT
SHANKARGOUDA I PATIL
PUSHPA S HUBALI
SHASHIKANT SHANKARRAO BALEKUNDRI
ATTAULLHA MOHAMMAD ALI TANEKHAN
ISMAIL MAGDUM MAGDUM GOUSMOHIUDDIN
BADAVANCHE LAXMAN BHARMA
BANDENAWAZ M SAYYED
MULLA IQBAL AHMED ABDUL KHADAR
RAMESH GANGARAM PAWALE
VIJAY PANDURANG MORE
VILAS PAWAR

12 - Belgaum Dakshin
ABHAY PATIL
CHANNAHOSUR SIDRAI GANGAPPA
PATIL SAMBHAJI LAXMAN
PRAMOD BALASAHEB PATIL
PRAKASH RAMCHANDRA SHIROLKAR
MARUTI DAULATRAO SHINDE
LODHI AIJAZ AHAMED
KIRAN KRISHNARAO SAYANAK
DALVI DEEPAK ARJUNRAO
PARSHURAM PATIL
MAHESH MANOHAR LAD
HULABATTE RAJAN SHANTINATH

Man with "objectionable material" arrested in Belgaum

Police recovered "illegal and objectionable" CD, laptop, mobile sets and books from 32-year-old Liyakhatali Abdulgani Sayeed...
A man was arrested and "objectionable material" including clippings of "Kashmir terrorism" and "9/11 attack in the US" recovered from his possession here, police today said.
"He was taken into custody from his house in Mahanteshnagar here last evening on suspicion that he intended to carry out criminal acts," a police official said.
Police recovered "illegal and objectionable" CD, laptop, mobile sets and books from 32-year-old Liyakhatali Abdulgani Sayeed, who was earlier working in a security agency in London.

Sayeed who hails from the city, had returned on March 18 this year after losing his job. Police said his wife and two children are British citizens.
A case has been registered and a police team has been formed under a Deputy Commissioner of Police to conduct further investigation, the official added.

Vasan Eye Care in Belgaum

The Trichy based Vasan Eye care has niche service business in areas of Eye Care, Retail, Multispecialty Hospital, and Diagnostic Centre. Maintain leadership position in each niche areas; partner with ‘best in class’ leaders and maintain traditional business values.

It is preparing to start its Belgaum Operations at Samadevi Galli, Next to City Union Bank

This is the first chain of health care centers being opened in the city. Many could follow suit. For Belgaumites it could be just another place to get your eyes checked and get them treated, if need be.

Belgaum South Voter ID card till 18 may

The voter ID card program for Belgaum South has begun today and will go on till 18 may.The program is being conducted in Herwadkar School & Swadhay vidya Mandir.

Nanawadi, Tilakwadi,RC Nagar, Vadgaon, Angol, hindwadi, Peeranwadi,Mazgaon and other adjoining areas are being covered in the Swadhay Vidya Mandir.

Shahpur, SPM road and adjoining areas are covered in the Herwadkar School.
There are various counters according to areas, so you check you area and then go to that counter. Fill a form (very small with your name, Date of birth, your serial no).
The most important is Serial no. in the voters list. There are people outside the halls to let you know your serial no. But I would rather suggest you all to see my post on voters list on this very blog, search your name and just go there, it becomes very easy. Most people spent time in searching for their names in the voters list, hence this suggestion and it works as I did the same thing and I got my voter card in 15 mins.

Election hai ! Aisa to nahi Lagta

Any visitor to Belgaum will find to his utter shock and dismay that there are absolutely no signs of elections at all in Belgaum city and several districts around.

On the face of it, it looks as if there is no interest at all in electing nearly 3 legislators 8 days from now. If there are no posters, buntings and banners and propaganda vehicles with blaring loud speakers, it is thanks largely to the Election Commission.

The big brother is so fearsome this time around that all political parties and candidates have meekly gone sub-surface for fear of violating the code that the commission has imposed. So much so, the former prime minister complained the other day that even to take a leak, he and others involved in the election process would have to seek prior permission!
That might be an exaggeration by a whole mile but the fact is that the Election Commission has ensured that this election in Karnataka is, certainly in a physical sense, very clean. It has been so sanitised that the usual indicators one seeks in the run-up to polling are completely missing.
Candidates, who now have to trudge from one door to another instead of raising the decibel level and holding meetings, are as clueless as anyone else on how things are shaping up. So are the political parties and certainly pundits.
The election buzz is missing, not just from the roads of Belgaum, but from the local papers too. Only 8 days more for Belgaum to go to polls, but it seems like elections is just another news for an otherwise busy city.
People tried other ways to woe the voters, in the same act Abhay Patil who had given a meal saying it was a wedding feast was arrested and then later released on bail.
With inputs from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com

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So go reading and remember you belgaumblog is now just belgaumblog.com

Now Belgaum South will also have a nice fight

Deepak Dalvi the rebel MES candidate yesterday withdrew from the race and now will support the official candidate of the MES, Kiran Saynak.

By doing this the marathi vote that would have been divided can possibly go into Kiran Saynak's favour. But still the fight in South will be between, Sambhaji Patil(INC), Abhay Patil (BJP) & now Kiran Sayank (MES).

Belgaum candidates Complete List

BADAVANCHE LAXMAN BHARMA Age 65 eldest in north
ATTAULLHA MOHAMMAD ALI TANEKHAN Age 35 youngest in north

DALVI DEEPAK ARJUNRAO age 65 eldest in southMAHESH MANOHAR LAD age 35 youngest in south
KOLLANATTI BHIMAPPA BALAPPA age 82 eldest in ruralRAJGOLI TOUSIF age 28 youngest in rural

Only 2 Women in rural & 1 in north have filed in their candidature.
None of the national parties have field in females(These parties are going to pass the womens reservation bill)
For the complete list of candidates, their age, address Click Here.

MES face a tough time as rebels contest

Understanding the Political Game:
From now on I will try and update about the various aspects that will effect the result of the election. North will be the most fierce battle of all. Will elaborate on each constitunecy later. Here's the first post in that regard.
Source: The New Indian Express
FIRST time in the five-decade-old history of Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) the pro-Maharashtrian organization is facing tough time with rebels contesting in four out of five Assembly constituencies in Belgaum district.

Six activists have contested as rebel against the official candidate in Khanapur constituency alone. Ramesh Pavale and Badavannache have contested against official candidate former mayor Vijay More in Belgaum North, former mayor Shivaji Sunthakar is contesting against former MES MLA Manohar Kinekar in Belgaum Rural, Deepak Dalavi is contesting against Kiran Sainak in Belgaum South and Muralidhar Patil, Vaishali Patil, Aravind Patil, Mahadev Maragale, Mugutsab Dharwadi and D M Gurav contested against former MES MLA Digambar Patil in Khanapur.

Apart from this MES is also facing threat from Shiva Sena as its district chief Prakash Shirolkar is contesting from Belgaum South and Khemanna Patil in Khanapur. Meanwhile, MES is being divided in different groups as its former Uchagoan MLA B I Patil openly declared his support to Sunthakar in rural segment and advised the MES activists to work for his victory.

Vijay More faced a tough time during his campaign too. As may as 18 galli units opposed his candidature and asked him to stay back from the election in the interest of the Marathi speaking population in the border areas. The pro-Maharashtrians opposed More’s candidature as he is not a Marathi speaking person and is a new entrant into the organisation.

But MES, defending its decision, pointed out that Marathi speaking population in Belgaum North was reduced to minority after delimitation. Presence of More would attract even non-Marathi votes, particularly dalits and backward community people, MES felt

Battle for BELGAUM

The final list of candidates aspiring to become MLA for all the Belgaum is below.
Voting on 22nd May 2008
Three different MOCK POLLS for all the 3 Belgaum constituencies is there on the blog home page. Kindly vote for your candidate from your constituency. Also forward the blog link to your friends so that they could also vote in th Mock Polls.
List of Candidates:
Belgaum North: 1.Shankargouda Patil (BJP) 2. Vilas Pawar (Rashtriya Hindu Sena), 3.Laxman Badvanche (Independent) 4. Ramesh L. Kudachi (JD-S), 5.Bandenavaz Sayeed (Independent) 6. Vijay More (MES) 7. Firoz Sait (INC), 8.Pushpa Hubli (JDU), 9.Iqbal A Mulla (Independent), 10.Attaulla Tanekhan (Independent) 11.Ramesh Pawale (Independent),12.Rassulasab Nadaf(BSP), 13.Ismail Moinuddin(Independent) 14.Sashikant Balekundri(SP).

Belgaum South: 1.Abhay Kumar Patil(BJP), 2. Chennahosur S Gangappa (BSP), 3. Sambhaji Patil (INC), 4. Pramod Balasaheb Patil (JDS), 5. Prakash R Shirolkar (Shivsena) 6.Maruti D Shinde (SP), 7.Lodhi Ejiaz Mehmood (Muslim League), 8.Kiran K Sayanak (MES), 9.Deepak A Dalvi(Independent), 10.Parshram B Patil(Independent), 11.Mahesh M Lad (Independent), 12.Hulbatte Rajan Shantinath(Independent).

Belgaum Rural: 1.Shivputrappa Malgi (INC), 2.Rukmani Gouda (JDS), 3.Sanjay Patil (BJP), 4.Malshetyappa Sahukar(BSP), 5. Shobha Akki(Rashtriya Hindu sena), 6.Bhimappa Kolyannati (Lok Jan Shakti),7.Taufiq Rajgoli (Muslim League),8.Manohar Kinekar (MES),9.Balu R Angolkar(Independent),10.Shivaji Sunthkar(Independent).

Belgaum Woman ready to become ETV SUPER WOMAN

Mrs.Anupama Joshi who took part in the reality show of ETV Marathi is now amongst the finalists.