BENGALURU: "I am missing the department, but do not regret of resigning. I wanted to fight against corruption, social injustice and many more. I chose to contest, through which I can reach my goal,'' Anupama Shenoy, former Deputy Superintendent of Police, said. She is contesting from Kapu assembly constituency in Udupi district from her newly-launched Bharatiya Janashakti Congress party.
Anupama, who was a probationary officer in 2013, was deputed to T Narasipura on election duty. "Last elections, I was on duty and this time, I am contesting. It is a mixed feeling. I wanted to resign or take VRS and join politics. But never thought it will be this soon. Though I was an active member during college, this is a different experience,'' she explained.
In 2016, Shenoy came into limelight after she was transferred from Kudligi of Ballari district. This abrupt transfer was done after she allegedly did not attend calls from the then district in-charge minister PT Parmeshwar Naik. After a public outcry, the government cancelled the transfer. But later, she tendered her resignation.
In November 2017, she announced Bharatiya Janashakti Congress, her new party. This time, candidates from her party will be contesting from more than 30 constituencies. "I will be contesting Kapu assembly constituency from Udupi, for which I am also a voter. With the support of a few party workers, I have started canvasing. I prefer and believe in traditional method of door-to-door to campaign. I am going with pamphlets and will be using mikes to reach out to a wider public audience. I trust this age-old method rather than social media,'' she said.
Anupama said her family has been a backbone for her initiatives. "My brother is with me. He not only helps me with paper work, but also joins me during campaign. I am strong because of their support,'' she added. She launched her party keeping an eye on eradication of corruption, protection of democracy, controlling private players in health, education and housing sector, empowering the youth, and social justice, Anupama said.
"I personally feel that the voters should be the king-makers,'' she says. Asked about what her chances of winning are, she said, "It is 50-50. I am not dreaming about winning, nor am I expecting a defeat. Anything can happen in democracy. If I lose, I will build this party stronger and bigger, so that by the Lok Sabha elections (in 2019), we will have a proper base.''
Even before her party candidates have started contesting from Karnataka, she already has an offer from Bihar. "Like-minded people from Bihar approached me to start our party there. I will be going there after May 15, we will see how best we can spread our wings,'' she concluded.