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Ambarish justifies Congress's decision to field Gangadhar in polls

Staff Correspondent

`Teachers' representative need not be from the teaching fraternity'

MAKING A POINT: Ambarish, Mandya MP, addressing a press conference in Mysore on Tuesday. — PHOTO: M.A. Sriram

MYSORE: Film star turned Lok Sabha MP Ambarish has justified the Congress party's decision to field Gangadhar as its candidate for the ensuing elections to the Legislative Council from the South Teachers' constituency. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Ambarish said Congress MLC Marithibbe Gowda had not sought the party ticket to contest the ensuing polls till the Janata Dal (Secular) announced retired Deputy Director of Public Instruction P. Sharadamma as its official candidate.

"He did not even meet the Congress observers when they arrived here to study the situation," Mr. Ambarish said.

By the time Mr. Marithibbe Gowda sought a Congress ticket, the party had finalised its choice, he added. Mr. Gangadhar was an "ideal" candidate for the ensuing polls to the Legislative Council from the South Teachers' constituency, he said.

Mr. Ambarish said the "rebel" factor of Mr. Marithibbe Gowda, who has entered the fray as an independent candidate, would not affect the Mr. Gangadhar's chances in the polls.

Mr. Ambarish said he did not subscribe to the view that a teachers' representative in the Legislative Council should necessarily be from the teaching fraternity. "Others can serve the teaching community just as well, if not better," he said.

He pointed out that Mr. Marithibbe Gowda, who was elected as a Congress MLC from the South Teachers' constituency in the previous elections, was not a teacher.

Former Ministers M. Mahadev, M.M. Nanaiah and Congress MLC G. Made Gowda, were present.

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