Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s internal democratic exercise, selection of candidates through primaries which was held across the country, has given impetus to inter-party democracy.
Karnataka had two primaries, one is in Mangalore where former Union Minister Janardhan Poojary defeated Union Minister Veerappa Moily’s son Harsha Moily, who was a surprise competitor.
In another primary held on Thursday for Bangalore North Parliamentary constituency, former MP C Narayanaswamy, who switched his loyalties to the Congress from JD(S) and won by a comfortable margin, defeating Professor Rajiv Gowda and KPCC secretary Chandrashekhar.
Narayanaswamy defeated Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee secretary GC Chandrashekhar by 66 votes after garnering 180 votes.
Chandrashekhar was reportedly backed by KPCC president G Parameshwara.
IIM Professor and son of former Assembly Speaker, the late M Venkatappa, Rajiv Gowda, and former MlA Nl Narendra Babu managed only 69 and 40.5 votes, respectively, with a total of 476 eligible voters having taken part in the process. Congress will send Narayanaswamy’s name to the Central Election Committee, which would take the final call in the naming of party candidates. Except for Narendra Babu, all candidates who contested the primary are from the Vokkaliga community, which has a good presence in the constituency.
Narayanaswamy, who is said to be backed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been contesting polls for more than the last 20 years, his only success being when he defeated former Railway Minister CK Jaffer Sharief.
Narayanaswamy will now take on another Vokkaliga and former chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda of the BJP in Bangalore north parliamentary constituency.