Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje
Video: Ganesh Perla - tvdaijiword

Watch Video: MEDIA PLAYER - Click Here  or  YOUTUBE - Click Here

Puttur, May 11, 2008

As the final countdown begins for elections in the twin districts of South Kanara, the second phase of the state elections, Daijiworld will bring you some of the interesting and exclusive interviews of leading candidates from their respective constituencies.

Pictorial interviews with video will surely be something special to the readers of daijiworld.com especially for those who are away from home and missing the election drama boiling in their native place.

As a first step, team Daijiworld headed by Walter Nandalike visited Puttur constituency and caught up with Shakuntala Shetty, the ever-popular, BJP-rejected independent candidate and the Congress candidate Bondala Jagannath Shetty.

The team could not meet BJP candidate Mallika Prasad, as she was canvassing in the interior places and was hence was not reachable.

Shaku Akka, as Shakuntala is popularly known, had a bunch of both men and women supporters who are accompangning her throughout the campaign come along for the interview. She looked fresh as ever and in an extremely jovial mood. Her confidence says that she is already won the upper hand in the elections, but she has solid grievances against BJP. She did not speak a single word against Congress but  bombarded BJP right and left.

'BJP will be nowhere in this election; my main opponent is Congress,' - that was the level of confidence radiating from Shaku.

'Wherever I go people welcome me with love, even small kids address me as 'Shaku Akka' and I feel tremendous happiness in it'

'The entire Puttur constituency knows that BJP has done injustice to me. In my tenure as MLA I created history and undertook a record number of developmental works. Local BJP leaders could not tolerate that. They are scared of my popularity and denied me the ticket.'

'I really do not know what was the reason for denial of ticket, but some say it is because I attended a kambla organized by Muthappa Rai, which made Sadananda Gowda unhappy with me and he wanted to take revenge. And others say, it is because I do not have the money to pay party fund that they denied ticket to me. People also say that since I refused the cashew board chairperson position they wanted to keep me away'

'If kambla was the reason, then they should have treated every one equally. A minister from BJP not only attended the kambla, but also inaugurated it!'

'I think I was not given ticket because I did not get into the kambla field and run!' jokes Shaku, 'Look at the developmental works done by me - mini Vidhana Souda, three PU colleges, one degree college, Morarji Desai Residential School, 11 primary schools, release of Rs one crore as fund for local bridge and several other works within Puttur constituency,' says an indignant Shaku boldly.

Shakunatala Shetty has received support from JDS which has withdrawn its candidature in favour of Shaku. Even a section of Sri Rama Sene members also offered support to her.

'Some local people are scared to come with me for canvassing, and even afraid to talk to me because the moment BJP people see them with me, they get threat calls from them. But I know that there are several men and women and specially youth supporting me silently. Only the result will bring out the truth' she says.

'Even after the election, and even if I win I will never join any political party. I had several offers to join, 
but I denied them all. I have been brought-up in a family of repute and I follow our culture. I do not believe in jumping from party to party.'

As Puttur is counted among the toughest constituencies and seen as a challenge and question of pride for BJP, especially as its state president hails from Puttur, the battle will be most interesting.

Bondala Jagannath Shetty:

Team Daijiworld met this young 35-year-old handsome politician at the Congress party office premises. It is interesting to see the confidence exuded by this young man. He talks as if he has already won the election.

'The trend is in favour of Congress in the entire state. Congress will come to the power with majority.'

'I am young, and I have been given an opportunity here. There is no difference of opinion among the party workers. The entire state unit is behind me and working for the Congress victory.'

He too says that his main opponent is Shakuntala Shetty and not BJP.

Though he has some concern about the Congress rebel Independent candidate Nalini Lokappa Gowda, who might spoil some Congress votes, Bondala diplomatically neither accepts nor rejects that Nalini Gowda will brighten Congress' chance. Many feel that Nalini Gowda's candidature will not spoil Congress votes, in fact it may spoil BJP votes, as Gowda community was the vote bank of BJP. As BJP has not given ticket to any Gowda community candidate, the voters might turn to Nalini Gowda.

'Congress is the only secular party in this country. JDS has had enough drama by taking the support of BJP to form the government. Though it may show itself as secular on the outside, JDS is really dangerous,' he says

If Bondala wins, he will be one of the youngest candidates to enter the assembly. He looks to have a great future as he poses himself as a typical, but polite political character. He looks down-to-earth and the level of confidence is simply amazing.

Though he is not a native of Puttur (he hails from Bantwal, but has ticket to fight from Puttur), he might 
capture some traditional Congress votes here. He never admits that he is an outsider. 'I have done enough developmental work in the capacity of youth Congress president of the district. So I am an acceptable candidate here,' he tells confidently.