With a Pinch of Salt: I’m not Contesting

  •   Fri, Mar 29 2024
  •   By Hemacharya

March 29, 2024

Many of my friends (and those who like to trap me somehow!) keep asking me why I cannot contest in Lok Sabha election. It was not a small question though. But today, the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has come to my rescue. She has answered to my question, quite blatantly. I felt her answer goes well with my answer too.

So here is my answer – “I was of course offered a ticket to contest for a Lok Sabha 2024 seat but I have declined the proposal in all honesty, for two reasons - one, for the lack of funds required to fight an election and two, the winnability.”

There were many reporters out there, who were quite curious to know why not going to fight the election although they know I fit well in either of the parties which are going to stake their claim. But I told them as a matter of fact -

“After thinking over a week or ten days, I just went back to say… maybe I should not. I do not have that kind of money to contest. I also have a problem - where will I be placed? If they ask me to contest from my own district, I know for sure many would not know me, like in the case of George Fernandes. It’s alright if I get a seat to contest from a distant land than from where I was born. The biggest tragedy of this country was no one knew who George Fernandes or Oscar Fernandes was. Many believed that both are the same person, although they represented two different parties.

The second question is who will pay my bills, I mean not the power bills or telephone bills but the election expenses. My situation is like Nirmala Sitharaman, who is an estranged wife. She cannot obviously ask her beau, Parakala Prabhakar for money. He is already convinced and confused that the nation’s economy is taken for a toss and there is no one to check on it. what will happen if the domestic budget is handed over to her.

In my case I know for sure no one including my dog, the Boxer will come forward to meet the expenses. He may ask why I am contesting the election in the first place. He knows well that I am not qualified to ask a question in the Parliament like in case of Nalin Kumar Kateel. I may only end up getting a certificate for the full attendance.

Will I be asked to contest from Andhra Pradesh or Tamil Nadu the states I never visited in my life. But I know one thing - both these states have a common problem – shortage of drinking and irrigation water. And those who are going to win a seat will be asked to get water for the state while no one is willing to part with their rivers, in Karnataka or elsewhere. So what is the use of fighting an election and winning to be the member of parliament.

Will I be a winnable candidate as I don’t belong to any major community. I don’t know my own religion, my caste or language. I speak in a language the British spoke when they ruled us. For them it was alright for no one understood what they said. It was alright when J. M. Lobo Prabhu contested on a Swatantra Party ticket from Udupi constituency back in the 60s. Of course, he never spoke his mother tongue Konkani, nor Tulu the local language or Kannada the state language. Yet he was elected as many felt he was British, with the type of ascent and tenor. It was alright in those days, not now?

Am I a fool to think that I will be elected by these people. They only elect a person who belong to their caste, community. A candidate’s education, achievement are no more a criterion. Even if he is a Tenth pass person and does not know to speak in English it’s alright with them. English is not a standard to evaluate someone, at least a member of the parliament. Don’t they have members in the Parliament who doesn’t know any language for that matter.

I am scared if the people from whom I expect the votes may ask me, which religion do you follow, which community you belong to, which religious places do you visit and so on. I have no answer. That is the reason why I am not contesting. I do not think I can fool around with these people any longer.

Should I look for say, a Rajya Sabha seat, but it depends on, which party will be ready to offer one. In Karnataka most of the members from outside the states have grabbed the seats. I may have to do like a Manmohan Singh or Pranab Mukherjee as no one from the place where are born will vote for me. It is difficult to be elected by our own people not because I am not good enough, I know economics, geography, statistics, biology, mathematics very well but like Subramanian Swamy - no one wants to take me. Every other person thinks that he is a great economist.

What would be my final statement. That I am very grateful to the question, but I am not contesting elections.

How about a Rajya Sabha nomination. Why not. If Ivan D’Souza gets a Legislative Council nomination through the back door, why should not I get one. Now you might ask me ‘Who that person who is willing to nominate you to the Rajya Sabha, wait, I hold my cards too close to my heart, and I will open them only when the right time comes.

Till then keep guessing.

By Hemacharya
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Comment on this article

  • Rita, Germany

    Tue, Apr 02 2024

    Nice to hear from you.Are you not sure whether you take the ticket or not for not having enough ?You have talents .First be sure of yourself.Second chance may not come.Language is not at all a problem in our country.For example ,in my village long back there was a backward caste was selected to Panchayat who could only press the thumb,.Since he was a illiterate.Funds can be collected from friends and well wishers.Sure many may come forward from our community itself for Propaganda.Last but not least would like to say you can go with Pen and Paper.That itself can also make big Politics,.So in Germany they say Schuster(Shoe maker)stay by your work.Dont make yourself loose the sleep..

  • David Pais, Mangalore

    Fri, Mar 29 2024

    I quote from above article: “I was of course offered a ticket to contest for a Lok Sabha 2024 seat but I have declined the proposal in all honesty, for two reasons - one, for the lack of funds required to fight an election and two, the winnability.” unquote. This sentence shows the feeble government's feeble Prime Minister and feeble ministers who were incompetent to carry out Electoral Reforms. Secondly, believing in loosing the elections. Even in the Rajya sabha elections they are pecifying bribing of elected representatives to vote in their favour. FINALLY BRIBERY VIA ELECTORAL BONDS HOPES WERE LOST.

  • Gabriel Vaz, Kulshekar/Bengaluru

    Fri, Mar 29 2024

    Perhaps like mandam FMji, you also don't eat onions and garlic!!!! Anyway, its a big loss to voters thartr you have declined to accept the offer of ticket --- but ticket to poll show??

  • Andrew L D Cunha, Mangalore

    Fri, Mar 29 2024

    Sir, kindly try for Karnataka Konkani Academy post (Next time!). No election there. Only selection. Enjoyed your article with a pinch of salt!


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Title: With a Pinch of Salt: I’m not Contesting



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