Mysuru: True to its legacy, Mandya has turned into a political hotbed and the forthcoming Assembly elections will see bitter battles where it will be proved that the voters here are politically mature.

This time’s contest, however, will prove that along with spending money, the candidates will have to gain the support of the people who have lost faith in elections, thanks to the Cauvery water issue where the people of Mandya, especially the farming community, are feeling that they have been betrayed to favour Tamil Nadu.

Leaders of all the three main political parties — Congress, JD(S) and BJP — have begun lobbying for tickets to contest the 2018 elections. Although the Congress and JD(S) have started the process of finalising the candidates for some Assembly segments in the district, the BJP, which has not opened its account in the district so far, is looking for strong candidates to take on the Congress and JD(S).

In all, it can be said that political activities in the sugar bowl of Karnataka is getting bigger by the day as the polls draw closer. The Mandya Assembly segment, currently represented by Ambarish of the Congress, is witnessing a keen battle between the Congress and JD(S) this time. Ambarish, who is also a former Minister, may find the going tough due to lack of developmental works and groupisum within the Congress.

The JD(S) which has a strong presence in the constituency has not yet finalised its candidate as there are too many aspirants who include popular medical practitioner of the city Dr. Shankaregowda, former MLA M. Srinivas, ZP Member Chandagalu Shivanna, Ashok Jayaram, Keelara Radhakrishna and K.S. Vijayananda.

As far as the BJP is concerned, Mandya city BJP President Bakery Ramesh and Organic Mandya Founder Madhu Chandan are the front runners for the party ticket.

Meanwhile, Channapattana MLA C.P. Yogeshwar, who recently rejoined the BJP, is learnt to be making attempts to bring former MLA M. Srinivas and leader Chandagalu Shivanna into the party fold.

In Srirangapatna, sitting MLA Ramesh Babu Bandisiddegowda, who has rebelled against the JD(S), is hoping to contest from the Congress this time. Ramesh Babu’s possible entry to the Congress has led to severe discontent among Congress leaders of the Constituency, who include Induvalu Sachidananda, Palahalli Chandrashekar and Puttegowda.

Ravindra Shrikantaiah, who quit the Congress recently, is the JD(S) candidate while former KRRS leader K.S. Nanjundegowda is the BJP candidate. Nanjundegowda had been unsuccessfully contesting the polls from Srirangapatna since many years.

In Maddur, the entry of BJP Legislator from Channapattana C.P. Yogeshwar has caused ripples in the Congress and JD(S). While the  JD(S) is certain to field sitting MLA D.C. Thammanna, there are many contenders in the Congress who include Madhu G. Madegowda, Maheshchand, B. Ramakrishna and Gurucharan.

The constituency will see a keen contest between the three parties if the BJP fields C.P. Yogeshwar from Maddur. Meanwhile, BJP Taluk President Lakshman Kumar too is eyeing the party ticket.

In Melukote, JD(S) MP C.S. Puttaraju has shown interest to enter the Assembly, even as sitting MLA K.S. Puttannaiah of KRRS has begun preparations for the polls. M.K. Keshava, who joined the BJP recently, is likely to become the party candidate.

The Congress seems to be thinking of fielding its star campaigner actress Ramya from the constituency to take on Puttaraju of JD(S). In an interesting development, mining baron B. Revanna, who had eyed the Congress ticket, has backed out for unexplained reasons.

In K.R. Pet, where the seat is currently held by K.C. Narayanagowda of the JD(S), the contest is mainly between the JD(S) and Congress. However, the BJP is expected to make an impact this time. The Congress aspirants include former MLA K.B. Chandrashekar, Kikkeri Suresh and M.D. Krishnamurthy.

State BJP President B.S. Yeddyurappa, who originally hails from the taluk, is making efforts to ensure BJP win in the constituency. The party is likely to field either Aravind, a relative of Yeddyurappa or Bookahalli Manjunath.

As far as Malavalli (SC) constituency is concerned, sitting MLA P.M. Narendraswamy of the Congress, who is also a former Minister, seems to be having a tough time this time as the JD(S) is pulling out all stops to win the seat. Dr. Annadani of the JD(S) lost the seat by a slender margin of 500 votes in the 2013 Assembly polls.

The BJP too is posing a threat to its rivals, as it has a considerable influence in some pockets of the constituency. However, confusion prevails among local BJP leaders as there are too many aspirants — former Minister B. Somashekar, leaders Muniraju, Dr. Jagadish and Kirugavalu Mahadevu. Meanwhile, former bureaucrat K. Shivaram too has begun to tour the constituency in the hope of getting the BJP ticket.

Nagamangala, currently represented by N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who was elected from the JD(S) but turned rebel last year, is knocking on the doors of the Congress to get the party ticket. The constituency is being keenly watched across the State as Cheluvarayaswamy led a group of JD(S) Legislators who voted against the party in the Rajya Sabha polls held a couple of years ago.

Even as Cheluvarayaswamy is almost sure to get the Congress ticket, former MLA Suresh Gowda of the Congress has left the Party to join the JD(S). The JD(S), taking note of an astrologer’s prediction that a woman candidate would be the best bet, may ultimately field Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda to take on Cheluvarayaswamy.

As far as the BJP is concerned, there are many aspirants, although the party does not have a strong presence in the constituency. The aspirants include Narasimhamurthy, K. Krishnappa, Rajkumar, Dr. Parthasarathy and entrepreneur Bharath Gowda.

The BJP is also said to be planning to field Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda if she joins the party ahead of the polls, it is learnt.