Kaup: Triangular fight - Sorake vs Mendon vs Salian
Walter Nandalike
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, May 1: Once a Congress stronghold, Kaup constituency has been captured by the BJP for almost a decade now. BJP's sitting MLA Lalaji Mendon defeated senior Congressman Vasanth V Salian in 2004 and 2008 assembly elections by small margins to take the constituency into BJP fold.
This time, Salian is contesting from JD(S) ticket as he was denied ticket from Congress. Vinay Kumar Sorake, a native of Puttur but former MP from Udupi constituency, has got the Congress ticket, while Lalaji Mendon is seeking re-election.
Daijiworld met all three frontline candidates in Kaup on Tuesday April 30 during their campaigns at different places.
Vasant V Salian - JD(S)
"I think people have misunderstood me. I have joined JD(S) not because I was denied ticket, but Congress cheated me at the last moment," said a pained Salian, a five-time MLA, who entered Karnataka assembly in 1983 and was loyal to Congress throughout his life.
He explained, "A senior Congress leader assured me ticket right from the beginning. He asked me to work in the constituency. Even on April 16 at 4 pm, the same leader called me up and said 'your ticket is guaranteed, get ready to file the nomination'. But a couple of hours later I could see on TV channel, that Sorake had been given the ticket. I was hurt, my supporters were hurt. I decided to file the nomination as an Independent candidate, because I was cheated by my own leaders whom I had trusted. But, learning about the denial of ticket to me JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda called me and said that being a senior leader, Congress should not have done injustice to me, and he invited me to contest as JD(S) candidate. My supporters also agreed to this, and I decided to contest. I want to teach a lesson to Congress this time."
"I lost the 2004 election by 1200 votes and in 2008 by a mere 800 votes. But I was not disheartened and I continued to work for the constituency. I did not run away to Mangalore like the other candidate (referring to Sorake)."
When asked how could Congress, that has given him everything including opportunity to be MLA five times and a minister too, cheat him, and whether he should not remain grateful to the party, he said, "I never cheated Congress, this is a conspiracy against me to finish my political life. If Congress had the courtesy to tell me about the denial of ticket at least 2-3 days in advance, then I would have accepted their decision, and worked for Congress still. But I could not tolerate this back stabbing."
Asked whether his intention was to win this election or just defeat Congress candidate Sorake, he said, "No, I am not here with the sole intention of defeating Congress. I do not have any such intention. I have people's support here, the youth are supporting me. People have realised that I have been cheated by the Congress. People of Kaup expect me to win the election and Kumaraswamy to become the CM."
When asked who his main opponent was, he said BJP.
"There are no Congress waves as such in the state. This time, JD(S) will win by majority. If I was in Congress and had won, Congress people would not have allowed me to become minister. But Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy have assured me that they will make me minister if I win and JD(S) comes to power."
On his plans for his constituency if he wins, he said, "Improving drinking water facility and supporting fishermen in their profession are my prime aims. During my tenure as minister in the state I had granted a jetty to Hejamady, but after that BJP government failed to promote and support fishermen in the region. In my constituency there are a couple of mega projects that have come but there is no opportunity for local youth and women. My priority is to provide employment opportunity for them if I become MLA once again.
"I am confident that the people will bless me this time. I will do my best to develop this constituency further."
Vinay Kumar Sorake - Congress
DW: Did you get a warm welcome from Congress workers when you came back here with ticket ?
People here and Congress workers have always welcomed me with good spirit. I have been in constant touch with party workers here. In just 13 days, people here elected me as MP in Udupi and sent me to parliament. I have offices here, I have always been touch with the people. While fighting for social causes, some people here have even filed criminal cases against me. I have two cases pending against me. I consider that as certificates as I fought for people's causes here.
DW: There is an allegation against you that you ran away from here to Mangalore after losing MP election...
Even today, my personal office is there in Udupi, and I am a voter from Udupi. Even after losing the election I promised people that I will remain here. I have my own house in Udupi. After contesting from Udupi, party workers recommended my name to become AICC secretary. So how can I be considered an outsider ?
DW: There is another allegation that you sacrificed your ticket for Shakuntala Shetty though you had better chances to contest from your native Puttur?
Yes, I had a chance there, but I had promised ticket to Shakuntala Shetty when she joined Congress. I have fulfilled my promise.
Don't you feel that the split in Congress (with Vasant Salian) will affect your chances?
I don't think there is any split in Congress. One fine night, Salian decided to join JD(S) without even consulting Congress workers just because he was denied the ticket. There are no Congress people with him. Party workers here believe in Congress ideology. They work for me not because I am Sorake, but for party principles and leadership.
What would be your strategy to beat BJP here?
Lalaji Mendon, the current MLA has been dancing to the tunes of industrialists here. He has never raised his voice in the Assembly, not even for his own community fishermen, and never for the poor either. In Belapu you see today there is 'Vinaya Nagara' - people named it so because I fought for their land. Lalaji has never supported such causes. In Yermal when bulldozers were used to vacate houses forcibly, I went and protested. Even today I have a case pending against me for that. I did not fear arrest warrant, but fought for the poor. There is extreme drinking water scarcity and electricity problem. Lalaji never worked to solve those issues. Today he claims that he developed Kaup. All his claims are false.
What is your stand on UPCL and Padoor project?
I urged for Special Economic Zone near Padubidri. I am not against industries, but any industry should be beneficial to the people. I will not support it if it harms and hurts people of this region. If good projects come I will support them for employment and economic reasons. But I oppose any project that is against the people. BJP was the one who supported projects like NTPC and other power projects but now it is acting like saint.
Your fight is against BJP, JD(S) and SDPI. What is your strategy to curb split votes from JD(S) and SDPI ?
My fight is against BJP. But people here know very well who is secretly supporting JD(S) and SDPI. Just investigate who is printing pamphlets and supporting these parties in other ways. I need not tell these details openly.
Salian openly alleged that you were responsible for defeating him in 2004 by fielding Gladys Almeida as an independent candidate here. She secured 2000-plus votes and Salian lost by 1,200 votes...
I will not react to this silly allegation by Salian. You can directly ask Gladys Almeida on who instigated her to stand as independent candidate against Salian (indirectly referring to JD(S) who had supported Gladys to contest the election and spoil Salian's chances).
Lalaji Mendon - BJP
Lalaji Mendon is contesting the election for the third consecutive time, but is not overconfident despite the split in Congress. He believes in his developmental work for the constituency.
"I have undertaken developmental works worth Rs 300 crore in the constituency during my tenure as MLA. I do not want to depend on other parties' weakness for my victory, but I am confident that my developmental works will bring me back as MLA," he said.
He hailed the hard work of the party workers who have been working day night for his victory. "There are so many reasons for victory and defeats in election. I am optimistic, with the support of people I am sure BJP will win here as well as in the state."
He ruled out any impact of Yeddyurappa and Sriramulu's exit from the party. "Our party in Kaup has always stood unitedly with the BJP leaders. I don't think there is any impact of Yeddyurappa's KJP or Ramulu's BSR Congress.
When asked if he was disappointed on not getting place in the cabinet in the last expansion, despite his name being among the probables, he said that he was not bothered about such things. "As I did not get any ministry, I got the opportunity to work more here and spend more time with the people in the constituency. These days, you need lots of hard work to contest and win the election," he said.
"My dream is to make this constituency a model in the state. Development work is not complete here, I will work further and bring more grants to fulfil basic needs of the people, specially drinking water," he said, when asked about his plans for the constituency.
Other candidates in the fray from Kaup:
Abdul Hakim - SDPI
Ronald Castelino - Ind
Srikath B Acharya - Ind
Qasim - Ind
Hameed - Ind
Praveen Kumar - Ind
Vijay Kumar Hegde - Ind
Stephen Richard Lobo - Ind
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