By P.T. Bopanna
Former Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan’s reported announcement that he would be contesting the 2028 Assembly elections has caused a flutter in political circles.
It was assumed that Ranjan and K.G. Bopaiah, of the BJP, would retire from electoral politics following their defeat in the last Assembly elections. Both Virajpet and Madikeri seats were won by the Congress.
Though Kodagu (Coorg) district in Karnataka was considered as the fortress of the Hindutva party, the saffron party was shocked by the defeat of their candidates.
The defeat of the BJP candidates was not unexpected for those who were familiar with Kodagu politics. Both Ranjan and Bopaiah have been winning their seats for over two decades and the voters were unhappy with their track record. They both were winning solely because of brand Modi and not due to the popularity of the candidates.
According to political observers, the BJP would have bagged both the seats, if the candidates were replaced with new faces. Though the party wanted to dump both the candidates, it was B.S. Yediyurappa who brought pressure on the party leadership to retain Bopaiah, who had unethically saved the Yediyurappa government while he was the Speaker of the Assembly.
The voters were in favour of new faces. Consequently, the Congress candidates, Dr Mantar Gowda from Madikeri and A.S. Ponnanna from Virajpet won the seats.
Both Ranjan and Bopaiah failed to develop second line leadership in the party as they wanted to remain legislators for lifetime.
By no stretch of imagination, Ranjan can aspire for BJP ticket because two of his brothers have been legislators, including one who is a sitting MLC.
Since both Mantar Gowda and Ponnanna are highly educated, Kodagu voters would not be happy with mediocre candidates contesting from the BJP.
I personally feel Dr Nikhil Nanjappa (in picture), well-known Mysuru-based surgeon would match the calibre of the Congress candidates. Nanjappa who studied in Kodagu, is highly qualified with foreign degrees. Moreover, he firmly believes in BJP ideology.
Dr Nanjappa has been active on social media, and articulates the BJP point of view. I have neither met nor spoken to Dr Nanjappa. I feel the people of Kodagu, deserve highly educated persons representing the district.
It is time the BJP shortlisted its MLA candidates for Kodagu, in order to make themselves familiar to the voters. Unless there is a strong opposition, people’s problem would not be solved.
