MANGALURU: Ex-DySP Anupama Shenoy will float a political party on November 1, which happens to be Kannada Rajyotsava. Rumours of her joining a political outfit or launching a new one have been floating around for some time.
Shenoy had quit the police force in June 2016 after a showdown with then minister P T Parameshwara Naik led to her transfer from the Kudligi sub-division.
Shenoy announced her decision on Facebook following a lengthy meeting with some of her friends at her residence in Udupi on Monday. Speaking to New Indian Express, she said she had been contemplating a political plunge for the last one year and met Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to explore the possibility of joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). She backed out, however, as that party’s stance on Hindi may not go down well in Karnataka.
“Many of my well wishers advised me to join the BJP, but I found it no different from the Congress or other existing political parties,” said Shenoy.
The name of her party will be announced in a press meet at Ballari or Kudligi where she won popular support for taking on the liquor mafia.
Asked whether there was space for a new political party in Karnataka, Shenoy said, “I am not launching a party for selfish motives. I am waging a war on present-day politicians and I will win it. I will not rest until I send all 224 MLAs packing. None of them stood behind me when I was shunted out.” She said her party would field candidates in all seats in the 2018 Assembly polls and hoped to win at least 60 of them. The party will strive to bring in reforms in agriculture, education, law and order, health and transport and communication sectors. “It will be pro-women, pro-environment and will wage a war against the social evils like corruption, liquor and untouchability.” she said.