The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Auto union leader files papers for Central Chennai seat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Auto union leader files papers for Central Chennai seat

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 19. K. Kumar, president of Goodwill Autodrivers Union, who has been driving autorickshaw since 1978, today filed nomination for the Central Chennai Parliamentary constituency.

Chennai City has approximately 50,000 registered autorickshaws. Mr. Kumar calculates that at the rate of five votes per family (of auto drivers), he could end up with 2.5 lakh votes. "There will also be other voters from the unorganised sector who will identify with me. I am a poor man like many of them. I have nothing, but noble intentions," he said.

He chose Central Chennai because it has a sizable population of auto drivers, particularly those owing allegiance to his union.

Mr. Kumar claims that the Rs 10,000 deposit for the election was mobilised by the auto drivers. "They have even come forward to bear the cost of the campaign ... posters, banners and all that," he said. The support of auto drivers was evident when he filed the nomination. More than 100 khaki-clad drivers cheered him as he handed over the papers to the Returning Officer at Ripon Buildings.

Mr. Kumar founded the union in 1998. The objective of the union, with a membership of 10,000 drivers, is to change the image of auto drivers as someone who help the people.

"People regard auto drivers as rowdies or generally ill-mannered. To dispel this image, our union conducts various programmes in which the drivers lend a helping hand for public causes. It includes awareness camps on AIDS and rainwater harvesting," he said.

In his manifesto, Mr. Kumar declared that he would work for the uplift of the unorganised sector. Welfare of auto drivers ranks high in his agenda. "The minimum charge for autos has remained the same for a long despite the price of petrol increasing by several rupees a litre. We pay road tax, green tax, insurance ... but what do we get in return," he asks.

The 45-year-old was quick to add that the problems of the auto driver and the common man were no different. "Auto drivers and the common man have been reduced to machines on which the spotlight turns only during the elections." Mr. Kumar has studied up to fourth class at the Kilpauk Garden Chennai Corporation School. His wife, Amudavalli, and three sons reside at Ambattur.

Nominations filed

Others who filed nominations on Monday include N. Kumaresh of the Socialist Unity Centre of India, Shahul Hameedhu of the Bhahujan Samaj Party and G.Venkatesh of the Janata Party for Central Chennai and T. Navamani and J. Mohanraj, both independents, for South Chennai.

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