Must-have qualities of a winning candidate
Political parties are working on strategies to face the Lok Sabha elections due to be held next year. All parties are only focused on winning elections, and none of them are bothered about the kind of candidates they would be staging for the polls. Their sole need is to get a winning candidate into the fray. Congress party has already held a meeting under the leadership of state incharge K C Venugopal to strategise the approach to elections because the party has to win maximum number of seats in Lok Sabha elections. Hence, media reports suggest, the winnability of the candidate will be the most decisive factor. Yeddyurappa of BJP has also said something similar to this. Who are such candidates who will ‘win for sure’? What are their qualities? No party has bothered to elaborate on these aspects.
Earlier, political parties would specifically mention candidates with criminal background would not be given tickets to contest at all. Or, the focus would be on those with clean character and fresh ideas. But today, no party makes such declarations even for the sake of it. Because criminals are inevitable today for every political party. If a party decides against inducting them into the cabinet, the leader of the said party will have to lose his position.
BJP has no survival beyond the Reddy brothers. Congress cannot keep out the likes of D K Shivakumar. Which is the reason for political parties going silent on their background. Today BJP has the highest number of criminals and anti-social elements in its party ranks. Leaders like Yogi Adityanath who comes with criminal background, and the likes of Anant Kumar Hegde with his lack of character, are regarded as best bets in the party. How would the better ones even dream of getting tickets amidst such elements?
With their declaration of ‘tickets to only winnable candidates’ the parties are conveying victory as the only parameter to get tickets. This is the lone criterion, with money-power aiding this victory. If a leader like Siddaramaiah could come close to a defeat against Sriramulu, money was the reason and not political statesmanship that could have caused this shift. Srimramulu is hardly a statesman or a seasoned politician when it comes to politics. The Reddy brothers bought votes with money. BJP was hesitant to identity itself with Reddy brothers after Janardhan Reddy was jailed on corruption charges. But ever since demonetization, the flow of money was affected and to depend on Janardhan Reddy became an inevitable thing. The money amassed by Reddys has contributed big time to the position of party with highest number of elected seats in the state. The winnable candidates in BJP are those who keep making instigating speeches in public and remain in the eyes of the media.
The contribution of MPs Ananta Kumar Hegde and Pratap Simha is hardly a matter of cognizance. But their instigating speeches always keep them in news. They always ensure people fight in the name of religion, dharma and caste. This is how they remain relevant to people of today’s generation. Their speeches reveal a lot of their mindset without any hesitation, that they are fond of violence. This apart, they have no other deserving quality in them. And this may be the lone quality for them to even get a ticket from their party to fight elections again. Being communal and disrupting the peace of the society is another big deserving quality too. Yogi Adityanath became the CM of UP on the same basis.
This apart, having high followers among chelas and goondas is another winnable characteristic of the candidates. No party now needs good and deserving candidates anymore. Because everyone is after defeating their opponent and holding an office by hook or crook. Hence parties have come to understand giving tickets to new candidates does not yield good results. If the good persons are staged for polls, the party will have to give them funds along with facing the revolt of old candidates as well. As a result of all this, the country is now on the threshold of being ruled by criminals and corrupt politicians.
If this has to change, the voters need to wake up from their slumber and elect better candidates among the lot. So long as a voter does not realize the most important role he/she has in safeguarding democracy, there would be hardly any change in the political reality in this country. The same criminals will continue to rule us. If their choice gets better, even politicians may be forced to change their ways and become the leaders of people’s choice.
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Inappropriate for MLAs seeking free IPL tickets, says D.K. Suresh
Bengaluru: Bengaluru Milk Union Ltd President D.K. Suresh on Monday said it is inappropriate for MLAs to seek free IPL tickets, adding that those interested in watching matches should pay for them personally.
Speaking to reporters near his residence in Sadashivanagar, he said, “IPL is a commercial tournament and does not represent the country. It is not right for public representatives to focus too much on such matters.”
Referring to the recent controversy during the RCB celebrations, he said, “let us find out who benefited the most from the statements made during the incident.” He also pointed out that BJP MLAs had received IPL tickets as well.
Responding to discussions about relocating the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Suresh said the government has already approved the construction of a new stadium at a location he had proposed.
“I had suggested building a stadium in Surya City and submitted a proposal for it. Bengaluru needs four stadiums in four directions to cater to its growing population and encourage youth participation in sports,” he said.
He noted that apart from Kanteerava Stadium, KSCA, and the Football Stadium, there are limited facilities in the city.
“When I was a Lok Sabha member, I had proposed allocating 100 acres in my constituency at Surya City. The land was later earmarked and the plan approved,” he added.
Suresh said he has discussed the project with Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation Chairman Shivalingegowda, and Anekal MLA Shivanna.
“The Cabinet has now approved the project, and a stadium will be developed on around 50–60 acres,” he said.
He further added that he has requested the Deputy Chief Minister to build another stadium at Shivarama Karanth Layout through the BDA, where 40 acres have been allocated. Plans are also being discussed to develop a well-equipped stadium in Bidadi.
Commending state government's recent bilingual policy move, Suresh said forcing children to learn three languages could affect their comprehension.
“It is a good decision to make two languages compulsory. Learning a third language should be left to the choice of students and parents,” he said.
Responding to criticism from BJP leaders, he said their tendency is to oppose every decision of the government.
“To please their central leadership, they take a pro-Hindi stance. Instead, they should advocate for the adoption of Kannada in all states,” he said.
When asked about the earlier three-language policy under Congress, he said, “the situation is different now. Today, the focus should be on quality learning. Kannada should remain the primary language, while students and parents can choose an additional language.”
