SL Ghotnekar, Naik vie for Congress ticket in Uttara Kannada

Karwar: With elections to the Legislative Council from the local bodies’ constituency fast approaching, the Congress camp is abuzz with activity in Karwar. The names of three Congress leaders are doing the rounds for the party ticket for Uttara Kannada constituency.

Uttara Kannada has just one seat. The Congress wants to retain the seat while the BJP which was at third place in the last election is trying its best to grab the seat and thereby display its strength in the district. A section within the district Congress is unhappy with sitting MLC S.L. Ghotnekar. These leaders want the party to field a new leader as the candidate. Ghotnekar won the 2010 election by pushing BJP to third place but the Congress leaders allege that he has not been of much help to the party or the constituency.

“It is true that Ghotnekar won the last election. But party workers and people are not happy with him as there is no contribution to society at large or the party. People find it difficult to approach him and get work done,” a party leader told Deccan Chronicle.

“This has made a section within the Congress demand that party leaders change the candidate. The best alternative leader for the constituency, who has been fighting for the people, is Advocate Ravindra Naik,” he said.

Mr. Naik is from the Namdhari community and is also an office-bearer of the Congress Legal Cell. He has headed various movements in the district to help people. “Many in the Congress want Naik to be the candidate. There are rumours that his supporters are discussing the possibility of fielding him as an Independent if the Congress fields another candidate,” he added.

Meanwhile the names of Sai Gaonkar, a senior leader of Congress who has been associated with Seva Dal for many decades is also making the rounds. His good relationship with senior Congress leaders and his long association with the party are his strengths. However Congress leaders believe that the final contest is likely to be between Ravindra Naik and Ghotnekar for the ticket.