A group of bachelor politicians cutting across party lines in Karnataka are taking centre stage in the ensuing Assembly elections with their own charisma. This group has joined the bandwagon of bachelor politicians in the Indian politics like, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSP leader Mayawati and off course senior BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee to name a few.
Shobha Karandlaje of KJP, BJP Minister Ramdas, Haladi Srinivasa Shetty, who quit BJP, Mallajamma of Congress, S Rajendran from KGF, BJPs Jayanagara MlA BN Vijayakumar, S Jayanna of Congress, former MlA MP Venkatesh, independent MlA who played an important role in Yeddyurappa-led BJP Government, Goolihatti Shekhar and many more in the bachelor bandwagon actively taking part in the May 5 Assembly elections.
For them it is not just an ideology but social commitment and politics which kept them away from the idea of getting married. These politicians always feel that they are committed to work for their constituency and welfare of the people. And it is quite interesting that these bachelor politicians in Karnataka cutting across the party lines have been a success.
A former Congress MlA and Dalit leader Mallajamma known for her fiery speeches, always says that she did not get time to think about marriage and its consequences. Mallajamma who is the women’s voice in the Congress has a hurt feeling that she has been neglected in the party. A rebellion by nature, she has been depressed as she could not get a ticket to contest. However, she nourishes an ambition to continue to work for the voiceless.
BJP’s Medical Education Minister SA Ramdass, a practising bachelor feels he was happy as it is and got enough time to work for his constituency and the party. An RSS activist, this bachelor Minister in BJP sometime plays a trouble shooter also. All the bachelors in Karnataka politics are now busy working hard to sustain their identity.
Another powerful lady voice, Shobha Karandlaje who has quit BJP to join KJP led by Yeddyurappa has always been a fighter. Shobha, an RSS functionary and a close aides of Yeddyurappa is now contesting from Bangalore’s Rajajinagara constituency giving a tough fight to her one time colleague Suresh Kumar another Minister in the BJP Government. She says as a full time RSS activist, she did not get time to think about marriage. Shobha a serious politician has been a supporter of Yeddyurappa.
In another development, the ruling BJP on Monday released its third list with 37 candidates for the May 5 Assembly polls but still has not taken a call about three tainted MlAs, keeping the suspense factor alive.
The BJP had announced its first list of 140 candidates on April 5 and subsequently released a set of 35 nominees. With today’s list, it has named candidates in 212 segments.
It’s yet to name candidates in the remaining 12 constituencies — the Karnataka Assembly has a total of 224 seats — including Hebbal, Malur and KGF, represented by tainted MlAs Katta Subramanya Naidu, SN Krishnaiah Setty and Y Sampangi, respectively.
According to the third list, Tourism Minister Anand Singh will seek re-election from Vijayanagara in Bellary district. Singh has done a u-turn as he had said earlier this month that he would contest as an independent candidate. Bangalore Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy is contesting from Shantinagar segment in the city.
As Monday is considered auspicious as hundreds of candidates, including key politicians BS Yeddyurappa, G Parameshwara and Siddaramaiah, entered the fray for the May 5 elections.
Former Chief Minister Yeddyurappa, who quit BJP and formed Karnataka Janatha Paksha (KJP) late, last year filed the nominations from Shikaripura in Shimoga district, accompanied by a large number of his supporters.