HDK's Move to Allot Ticket to Newcomer a Political Stunt?
Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Oct 29: What happens when a person who has just joined a political party gets to contest in the assembly election immediately, especially when 'immediately' means only a few minutes after the person has been inducted to the party?
It is seen by all and sundry as a political stunt.
Such an episode was witnessed at the JD(S) party convention held at Town Hall here on Monday October 29. Though A Sadananda Shetty’s inclusion in the party was announced at a press meet held earlier by the district JD(S), no one had predicted him that he would be named the next MLA candidate from the party.
Perhaps for the first time in recent years, ticket to contest the state assembly elections has been allotted to a person who has never been engaged in any party activity. This is nothing but a clear case of caste appeasing politics, said a senior citizen who was present at the programme, while speaking to Daijiworld.
He added that there are many party leaders who have been active in politics, but who have been sidelined only for the reason that their ‘caste’ does not ‘yield’ votes for the party.
Caste politics is not a new phenomena in the state politics; however JD(S) which claims itself to be a secular party is openly engaged in calculation of votes on the basis of caste. Undoubtedly, in the coastal region including the DK district, Bunts are the majority community and eyeing their votes, the ticket has been given to Sadananda Shetty.
Here it may be recalled that Nagaraj Shetty had declined from contesting the elections though he too belongs to Bunts community.
As if to drive the point home, JD(S) youth state president Madhu Bangarappa’s openly made an attempt to woo the people of Billava community in his speech.
At the same time, rumours are rife within the political circles that having appeased the Bunts community, the candidature of Sadananda Shetty may be withdrawn at the last minute and he may replaced by a politically strong candidate.