ZP Polls: It's a Family Affair for Netas
BENGALURU: Dynasty or family politics is no longer confined to the higher echelons of politics. It is now seeping deep into the grassroots too as around 100 candidates across the state who are in the fray for the on-going zilla and taluk panchayat elections are relatives of MLAs, MPs and ministers, both present and former.
The number could go up as Monday was the last day for filing nominations for 15 zilla panchayats which will go for polls in the second phase on February 20.
This number, however, is not so big when seen against the total number of seats -1,083 - that are up for grabs in all 30 zilla panchayats. But it is swelling with every election giving an indication of becoming a trend in near future.
Prominent names among candidates who inherit a political legacy include: Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa’s brother Kagodu Annappa; Bhavani Revanna, daughter-in-law of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda and wife of former minister H D Revanna; Hassan district minister A Manju’s son Dr Mantharagowda; former Union minister and Kolar MP K H Muniyappa’s daughter Roopa Shashidhar; Opposition Leader in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa’s son K E Kanthesh; former minister Umesh Katti’s son Nikhil and his MP brother Ramesh Katti’s son Pavan.
The mad rush to contest ZP elections by the kin of established politicians is being attributed to the recently amended Karnataka Grama Swaraj Panchayat Act which gives a five-year term for zilla panchayat presidents with the minister of state rank.
“This is the trigger for this rush. Otherwise, why are so many relatives contesting this election? Moreover, the ZPs and TPs have become platforms for politicians to promote their children before they are made to contest MP, MLA elections,” said a Congress worker who was denied the ticket in Belagavi district.
There is nothing wrong in family members of MLAs and MPs contesting panchayat elections, but it is certainly against the spirit of democracy as it would defeat the objective of empowering people with political power at the grassroot level. The trend will also deny a chance to party workers to contest elections and climb the political ladder.
“Politics has become a trade. Except Left parties, no other party, including the one which I represent, is an exception. The trend shows that the established politicians are only trying to promote their perpetual interests by making their sons, daughters, wives contest these elections which are otherwise meant to empower common man,” said Congress MLA Rameshkumar.
In some cases, more than one member of a family is contesting. In Hassan district, JD(S) MLA C M Balakrishna’s wife Kusuma and his brother Puttuswamy Gowda are in the fray.
Info on Movement of Cash Sought
Bengaluru: The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Karnataka, Goa and Bengaluru, has requested the public for information on movement of large amount of cash and other movable assets in the run-up to the bypolls. The Income Tax Department has set up a round-the-clock control room for this purpose. The toll free number for all three constituencies is 1800-425-7707.