Date:25/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/25/stories/2006032506500600.htm

Karnataka

U.R. Ananthamurthy makes a point in Karnataka

A. Jayaram

He draws attention to the type of candidates to be elected

Bangalore: One of the better known among the contemporary writers in Kannada, U.R. Ananthamurthy, is literally knocking on closed doors and soliciting votes from closed minds in the elections to the Rajya Sabha. On the other hand, three politicians and an industrialist who was so far not known beyond business and industry circles, are sitting pretty, assured of easy victory in the elections.

Even though Dr. Ananthamurthy is likely to lose, he has already made a point by calling attention to the type of candidates being elected to the Rajya Sabha from the State. The thinking people of the State should be thankful to him for that.

The litterateur is right in saying that he has won at least the first round of the electoral battle with some of the smaller political groups in the Legislative Assembly and a few independents sponsoring his candidature. That may have more to do with the virtual split in the Janata Dal (Secular) and the circumstances leading to the fall of the previous government than any regard for the stature and contribution of Dr. Ananthamurthy. It is also noteworthy that the same group of MLAs behind the litterateur's candidature has also sponsored an NRI, Mike Mallappa, who too is fighting the elections as an independent.

Dr. Ananthamurthy has entered the fray saying that he is contesting to uphold the dignity of Kannadigas and Kannada language. An unfortunate fallout of his decision to contest is the attack on him by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and some of his fellow litterateurs, especially D. Javare Gowda, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mysore, and Chandrashekar Patil, President of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

For at least the past two decades, apart from professional politicians, candidates from outside the State, in particular leading industrialists and businessmen, have come to regard the Karnataka Legislative Assembly as the "freeway to reach the Rajya Sabha." It is being said that political parties support them even though they contest as independents because there exists a quid pro quo. Political parties, especially those in power in the State, have never viewed the Upper Chamber of Parliament to be anything different from the Lower Chamber. A majority of those elected to the Rajya Sabha from the State have been professional politicians.