Mysore poll battle to miss royal touch

With the Congress finally announcing ticket to former minister H Viswanath, the picture of a triangular fight in the Mysore parliamentary constituency is clear now.

Janata Dal (S) has chosen Kodagu’s former minister A B Jeevijaya and BJP sitting MP C H Vijayashankar are the other two chief contenders for the Mysore Lok Sabha seat.

Despite opposition to Viswanath, the Congress High Command has finally opted for him preferring an on a par fight with the BJP on caste grounds. Both belong to the Kuruba community. Targeting the Vokkaliga votes, the Janata Dal (S) has fielded Jeevijaya.

The election battle will be missing the royal aura in the absence of scion of the Mysore royal family Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar, a four-time MP. As the Congress has chosen Viswanath, a former MLA from K R Nagar, formerly in Mysore district and now under Mandya Lok Sabha constituency after delimitation, Wadiyar is not in the fray.

In fact, Wadiyar’s name is not to be found in the Congress list announced for 22 out of 28 seats in Karnataka. There were rumours that he may prefer to contest from Bangalore. Except Bangalore South, the Congress has finalised its candidate for rest of the constituencies. Wadiyar made his political debut in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections.