By Jacinta D Souza
Bangalore, Apr 18 : It is sheer political irony at play in Bangalore Central, where Congress is betting on its one-time bitter rival, a "super cop", to score victory in this urban Parliamentary constituency.
The 66-year-old "super cop" H T Sangliana, who trounced Congress warhorse C K Jaffer Sharief to win Bangalore North seat as a BJP candidate in 2004, has done it again!
Sangliana has upstaged Sharief in securing Congress ticket to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central.
A giant killer then, defeating the former union minister Sharief, Sangliana, a former Bangalore Police Commissioner, is now donning a new hat as a Congress candidate.
Sangliana, who was among the dissenting saffron voices to join the Ayes in the critical vote of confidence sought by the UPA Government on the Indo-US nuclear deal in Lok Sabha, received his 'good-boy' gift for his support.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi rewarded him for that dissenting note, overlooking the party's long-time loyal leader Sharief's demand to contest from Bangalore Central. Sharief has instead been given a ticket from Bangalore North.
Shed of his saffron tag, Sangliana is now banking on his image of the no-nonsense 'supercop' and the work done by him as an MP from Bangalore North to win against BJP's P C Mohan and JD(S)' Zameer Ahmed.
Mohan is looking to the 13 lakh Hindu vote bank but the two minority leaders are also going all out to grab a share of it, in addition to banking on their respective communities.
"The BJP government has initiated several infrastructural projects for the city. I am highlighting all these achievements," said Mohan.
"With the assistance of the state government, we will speed up all the development works. Providing good roads, drainage and all types of necessary infrastructure will be my priority", said the 45-year-old BJP leader.
Countering his claim, Ahmed states, "When Kumaraswamy was chief minister, he sanctioned crore of rupees to the city's infrastructural projects. But now there is confusion in providing the infrastructure."
"I will also focus on the BJP government's failure on communal front", said Ahmed, who is highlighting the communal incidents in some parts during the BJP rule.
Sangliana on the other hand says he is highlighting the work done by him as an MP in Bangalore North and promises protection to women from the current "moral policing".
The constituency comprises eight assembly segments including the three new segments of Mahadevapura, Sarvajnanagar and C V Raman Nagar.
While the Hindu, Christian and Muslim candidates fight with one another for the votes, the cosmopolitan character of the constituency will be put to test on May 16.
READ MORE - Congress backs on old foe to bag Bangalore Central
Bangalore, Apr 18 : It is sheer political irony at play in Bangalore Central, where Congress is betting on its one-time bitter rival, a "super cop", to score victory in this urban Parliamentary constituency.The 66-year-old "super cop" H T Sangliana, who trounced Congress warhorse C K Jaffer Sharief to win Bangalore North seat as a BJP candidate in 2004, has done it again!
Sangliana has upstaged Sharief in securing Congress ticket to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central.
A giant killer then, defeating the former union minister Sharief, Sangliana, a former Bangalore Police Commissioner, is now donning a new hat as a Congress candidate.
Sangliana, who was among the dissenting saffron voices to join the Ayes in the critical vote of confidence sought by the UPA Government on the Indo-US nuclear deal in Lok Sabha, received his 'good-boy' gift for his support.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi rewarded him for that dissenting note, overlooking the party's long-time loyal leader Sharief's demand to contest from Bangalore Central. Sharief has instead been given a ticket from Bangalore North.
Shed of his saffron tag, Sangliana is now banking on his image of the no-nonsense 'supercop' and the work done by him as an MP from Bangalore North to win against BJP's P C Mohan and JD(S)' Zameer Ahmed.
Mohan is looking to the 13 lakh Hindu vote bank but the two minority leaders are also going all out to grab a share of it, in addition to banking on their respective communities.
"The BJP government has initiated several infrastructural projects for the city. I am highlighting all these achievements," said Mohan.
"With the assistance of the state government, we will speed up all the development works. Providing good roads, drainage and all types of necessary infrastructure will be my priority", said the 45-year-old BJP leader.
Countering his claim, Ahmed states, "When Kumaraswamy was chief minister, he sanctioned crore of rupees to the city's infrastructural projects. But now there is confusion in providing the infrastructure."
"I will also focus on the BJP government's failure on communal front", said Ahmed, who is highlighting the communal incidents in some parts during the BJP rule.
Sangliana on the other hand says he is highlighting the work done by him as an MP in Bangalore North and promises protection to women from the current "moral policing".
The constituency comprises eight assembly segments including the three new segments of Mahadevapura, Sarvajnanagar and C V Raman Nagar.
While the Hindu, Christian and Muslim candidates fight with one another for the votes, the cosmopolitan character of the constituency will be put to test on May 16.
