The Hindu : Karnataka News : Parishat polls likely to see keen contest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 30, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Parishat polls likely to see keen contest

By K.N. Venkatasubba Rao

BANGALORE, OCT. 29. The elections to the post of president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) and its district units scheduled for October 31 are likely to witness keen contests.

A record 14 candidates are in the fray for the KSP president's post. But the contest is between Chandrashekhar Patil and R.K. Prasad. The other important candidates are Lakshmana Rao Gogi, Ajjampura G. Suri, Shankaraiah, B. Narayanamma, Ni. Giri Gowda and Hariharapriya.

Champa

The 66-year-old Prof. Patil, who is popularly known as Champa, is a Lingayat. He taught English literature in Karnataka University, Dharwad. He identified himself first with the Navya tradition of Kannada literature and later with the Bandaya school. He was the editor of the now defunct literary periodical Sankramana. He carved a niche for himself as a playwright, poet, literary critic and columnist in Kannada. Though his literary contributions were said to be not on a par with some of his contemporaries such as the late P. Lankesh and M. Gopalakrishna Adiga, U.R. Ananthamurthy and S.L. Byrappa, his influence in some parts of the State in the mid-1970s cannot be ignored.

Known for his acerbic literary style "cultural controversies", Prof. Patil also served as chairman of the Kannada Development Authority. He is now associated with Kannada organisations.

He is contesting for the post for the second time and his candidature is seen as "inevitable." Despite his ideological differences with "institutionalised literary and religious bodies," he first contested for the post and lost to Hari Krishna Punaroor, a Brahmin, in the elections held in July 2001.

Nallor Prasad

On the other hand, the 57-year-old Dr. Prasad, who is popularly known as Nallor Prasad, is a Vokkaliga. He teaches Kannada in a private college in Bangalore. He has held several posts in various cultural bodies, including the Kannada Sahitya Parishat, the Karnataka Sahitya Academy and the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy. He has also served in the Academic Council of the University of Bangalore for a term. As a poet and a folk essayist he has won several awards. His works have also been published. He is also known for his socio-political activities during his student days.

Voters

The rise in the number of the parishat voters in the past four years is likely to upset many apple carts. The number of eligible voters this time has gone over 40,000 as against the 21,000 who voted in 2001.

In this light, the elections are also seen as a "contest between the Lingayat-dominated north Karnataka region and the Vokkaliga-dominated districts of the State." Of the 40,000 voters spread across the State, the number of Vokkaliga voters has been put at 13,700, while the number of Lingayat voters is limited to 10,000. The number of Brahmin votes is said to be over 9,000. Over 3,000 Brahmin voters are concentrated in Bangalore, according to sources in the sahitya parishat.

The Vokkaliga votes are generally concentrated in Mysore, Mandya, Hassan, Chikmagalur and Bangalore Rural.

Considering his reputation in the cultural and political fields, it looks likely that Dr. Prasad can make it. But the candidature of Ni. Giri Gowda, another Vokkaliga, is reckoned to divide the Vokkaliga votes.

On the other hand, despite embarrassing political and religious statements reportedly made by Prof. Patil at times, the Lingayat and Brahmin voters may "favour Prof. Patil for reasons other than literary," the sources have said.

However, the chances of Prof. Shankaraiah and Mr. Ajjampura G. Suri winning the elections cannot be ruled out, the sources have said.

The results will be announced on November 2.

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