Battle for Moodabidri: Mithun Rai frontrunner for Congress…

Team Udayavani, Mar 17, 2023, 10:41 AM IST

Moodabidri constituency is gearing up for a heated political battle as the Assembly elections draw near. With multiple candidates vying for party tickets, the political landscape is rife with speculation and intrigue.

While the Congress seems to have a clear front-runner in Mithun Rai, the BJP is shrouded in uncertainty with rumors of sitting MLAs being asked to give up their seats.

Mithun Rai being a frontrunner in Congress may not be surprising. In 2018, Rai tried for a Congress ticket to contest from Moodabidri. But he missed out as the ticket was given to Abhayachandra Jain. This time, however, Abhayachandra Jain has already made it clear that he will not contest. Jain had said the same during the last 2018 election, but in the end, he agreed to contest the elections following Siddaramaiah’s instructions.

On the other hand, Mithun Rai’s loss to BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections has raised questions about his ability to win in a predominantly BJP stronghold. Nevertheless, Rai’s confidence and determination to win are palpable.

In contrast, the BJP’s lack of clarity about its candidates is somewhat concerning. While it is not unusual for party tickets to be authorized months in advance, in the recent past the BJP is trying new experiments.  The decision to potentially deprive dozens of MLAs of tickets has created an air of uncertainty.

MLA Umanath Kotian has reportedly claimed himself of being the candidate and is seen touring the constituency actively. He seems confident that voters will support him after seeing the work done during his tenure.

Furthermore, the controversy surrounding MLA Umanatha Kotian’s recent statement has not helped the BJP’s cause. While Kotian is confident in his candidacy and has a strong record to back it up, the damage caused by his statement could hurt his chances.

On the other hand, there are rumours that JDS is putting forward a new face in the form of dentist Dr. Amarashree, the daughter of the former minister the late Amarnath Shetty. With the JDS leaders reportedly favoring her candidacy, it will be interesting to see how she fares in the upcoming elections.