The Hindu : Karnataka News : Mainstream parties ignore tribal candidates

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Mainstream parties ignore tribal candidates

Shankar Bennur

HD. Kote taluk has the largest population of indigenous tribal people in the State

H.D. Kote has the largest population of indigenous tribal people
Parties have given ticket to candidates belonging Nayaka community

MYSORE: Political representation continues to be a mirage for tribal people. Even after 60 years of Independence, none of the forest-based indigenous tribal people got political representation in the State, especially from Heggadadevanakote taluk, which has the largest population of indigenous tribal people.

The hopes of tribal people have been dashed as none of the mainstream political parties, barring the Samajwadi Party, have considered their request for fielding a tribal person from H.D. Kote (reserved) constituency. Following the visit of All-India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi to the taluk, the tribal people had high hopes of realising their long-felt dream of political representation.

The Congress came under pressure from the party workers and former zilla panchayat member Beechanahalli Chikkanna, who belongs to Nayaka community, has been chosen the party candidate from the constituency, reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

The BJP has announced Mysore Zilla Panchayat member Chikkaveeranayak as its candidate. Dodda Nayak of Janata Dal (Secular) filed his nomination on Wednesday dashing the hopes of fielding a tribal person on Janata Dal (Secular) ticket.

The former gram panchayat president Kavera, who belongs to tribal community, who had aspired for Congress ticket, has entered the fray as a rebel candidate. Another aspirant Somanna, director of Budakattu Krishikara Sangha, has filed nomination as independent candidate. The former zilla panchayat vice-president Jaji Thimmaiah, who belongs to the tribal community, has entered the fray as Sarvodaya Karnataka Party candidate.

The representatives of the non-governmental organisations working for the welfare of tribal people had been to New Delhi and urged the Congress leaders to field a tribal person from the constituency.

The name of Nataraj, a tribal working as resource person in State Resource Centre, had been short-listed along with two others — Appanna and Chikkanna — and the list was sent to the Congress high command in Delhi for approval. But the party chose Chikkanna based on the party leaders’ opinion.

The Congress, the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) have given ticket to candidates belonging Nayaka community. The constituency is dominated by Nayaka community with over 50,000 votes.

The delimitation process ensured that H.D. Kote constituency was reserved for STs. It was earlier reserved for Scheduled Castes. Of the 15 newly-formed ST constituencies in the State, H.D. Kote is the only one wherein indigenous forest-based tribal people reside.

Tribal activists, who are in the poll race, are mobilising support of the entire community of H.D. Kote which is upset that mainstream parties did not consider their request.

“We know it becomes difficult to win the election if there is no backing of a mainstream political party. But the contest will highlight the issue of the need for giving political representation to the tribal people,” a tribal person said.

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