Bengaluru: BJP leader Anantkumar Hegde represented Uttara Kannada Lok Sabha segment in Karnataka for six terms and now gynecologist Anjali Nimbalkar is putting up a spirited fight seeking to turn the tide and "deliver" it for the Congress.
Dr Nimbalkar is taking on former Karnataka Assembly Speaker Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri, who replaced Hegde, in this BJP stronghold.
A former Congress MLA, she lost the Assembly elections from Khanapur in Belagavi district last year.
The 62-year-old Kageri, a six-term MLA and a former minister, was also defeated in the Assembly polls from Sirsi.
"In the past 30 years, the voice of Uttara Kannada was not spoken and not even a single question was asked in the Parliament," Nimbalkar said in an apparent dig at Hegde.
If elected, she said her focus is to address the local issues related to forest dwellers, getting them 'patra' for their own land -- a battle they have been fighting for long.
Also on her priority list is getting a multispecialty hospital in Kumta as per people's demand, generating employment and focusing on tourism for the overall development of Uttara Kannada.
"Issues related to forest dwellers -- they want a 'patra' for their own land -- we will try and put forth these issues in the first session itself and we will see to it that maximum applications which are pending with the Central government get cleared during the first session itself," she said in an interview.
"So, our thing is that at least 50 per cent of the jobs should be given to the local Kannadigas in the Central schemes which are implemented in the district," she said.
Noting that Uttara Kannada has a combination of both beaches and temples, Nimbalkar said the district can be developed internationally in a much higher scale than "what actually Goa or Kerala is".
The Congress candidate is also banking on the five guarantee schemes launched by the Siddaramaiah-led government in Karnataka and the promises made by party in its manifesto at the national level.
Responding to a question, she expressed happiness that the Congress has fielded a total of six women candidates out of 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka.
While campaigning, Nimbalkar said she was overwhelmed to see a large number of people, especially women, turning up for her rallies despite the intense heat in Uttara Kannada.
"They are very happy that the Congress has given a woman candidate and an educated candidate who herself is a doctor and a gynecologist. So they are excited that, yes, she can be our voice in the Parliament who can fight for our rights," the 47-year-old said.
"I have worked as an MLA (Khanapur), so they have seen my work in the Assembly and the expectations are like, yes, she will be the one who will be speaking for us and that faith is seen in their eyes," she said.
Nimbalkar strongly believes that when women enter any field, it brings a different perspective - be it in terms of management, policy formulation or even as homemakers.
Uttara Kannada is among the 14 constituencies going for polls in Karnataka under second phase on May 7.
Karnataka has 28 Lok Sabha seats and the first phase of polling was held on April 26.
Comments
If he was muslim it would have been \\"\" breaking news im arnab goswamis throat.. Hypocrites dont show this.. Arresting of real terrorists."
oh namo shiva,,,, Not muslim,,, Otherwise story could be manglorean apponited to kill / carry out terror attack in Isareeel, by AL- hamas , hijbul mujahideen,,. many mnay.... Breaking news @ Times now,,,zee new,,,etc etc,,TV9,,,tonight debate with AR-nab Cow swamy.
Mangalore media shouted \Terrorist\" once Mangalorean Muslim youths carries Chakkuli, Kaarakaddi and some snacks. Here gone silent????"
#7 He came to deceive cheddis, the ways they are doing since decades...
NO NEWS SO FAR IN OTHER MEDIA....ONLY I CAME TO KNOW BY CD HERE..
IF THIS WAS HAPPENED TO MUSLIM PASSENGER, WHAT WILL BE THE REACTION FROM THE AIRPORT AUTHORITY AND THE GOVT OFFICIAL INCLUDING POLICE DEPT?????
He came to train RSS and bajarangi pepole so take care
IF MUSLIM FOUND IN SAME ISSUE EVERY NEWS WILL SAY TERRORIST ARRESTED IN MANGALORE AIRPORT.
May be he was taking those bullets to kill Palestinians....need to be investigated....
dont understand what and all this people will be smuggling, golds different case,
ohh really this guy must be crazy. as we all know powerful x ray scanner will be there.
Good work done by airport officials
When a innocent Muslim man was held at the same airport when the Sanghist authorities mistook his tab for an explosive it became an international news. now when this Israel bound passenger arrested with bullets its not at all a news for national media. what a double standard.
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