State minister and MLA of Mangalore Constituency, UT Khader and his father have been representing this constituency for the past 29 years. UT Khader, who has been elected thrice so far, has been MLA for 11 years from this constituency.
For a change, the CPI(M) party has decided to field the young advocate, Nithin Kuthar from the Mangalore Vidhanasabha Constituency.
In a telephonic interview with Newskarnataka, Nithin Kuthar thanked the Communist Party leaders for selecting him as the party’s candidate and revealed that he will be contesting the assembly elections from the Mangalore Constituency, against Congress strongman UT Khader and the BJP’s candidate. Nithin Kuthar also expressed that development and harmony will be key factors in the elections.
The excerpts of the interview
NK: As the Mangalore Constituency is a Muslim majority constituency, do you think there is an anti-incumbency factor against the present MLA UT Khader?
Nithin Kuthar: Yes, it is a Muslim majority constituency ad there is an anti-incumbency factor, against sitting MLA UT Khader. In Ullal, the minority and backward classes have no security. Ullal is a communally sensitive area. Being an MLA, UT Khader has failed to avert communal discord. The minorities and backward classes have lost hope. Young people are expecting a change in the constituency. Moreover, the constituency us lagging behind economically and lacking in basic facilities.
NK: Continuously, since 1999 the Mangalore Constituency is in the strong grasp of the Indian National Congress. State minister UT Khader got elected from this constituency thrice. What major issues you have against the sitting MLA, while you go to the people seeking votes?
Nithin Kuthar: UT Khader may be a political strongman, but he never used his political influence for the development of the constituency. When UT Khader was a Health Minister for the state, he failed to bring a government medical college to this constituency. He also failed to construct an upgraded government hospital for his own constituency. He has also not created employment opportunities for the youth by attracting industries to the constituency. People who are economically backward cannot avail medical or engineering seats.
NK: Can you combat UT Khader, the politician who always lays emphasis on religious harmony in his constituency?
Nithin Kuthar: Constructing a road for religious institutions is not development. There are people who are still suffering without basic facilities. UT Khader has failed to address the actual problem of the people in the constituency and succeeded in giving only assurance to them.
NK: As a candidate for the Mangalore Constituency, what will be your focus for the elections ?
Nithin Kuthar: Since my college days, I have been actively involved in the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and have taken up several social issues. We fought for several pro-people issues of the working class and students. Still the dream of the working class for good education remains unaddressed. There is no employment opportunity. Addressing the problem of a common man and working towards the solution, creating employment opportunities for the youth, good education, development and harmony will be the vision for the upcoming elections.
NK: Why did you chose the Mangalore constituency?
Nithin Kuthar: The Communist party is a national party. The Ullal constituency has a long history with the Communist party. Compared to other constituencies there are more number of communist party workers in this constituency. Hence I have opted to contest here.
Commenting on Ullal being a communally sensitive area, Nithin Kuthar, expressed that Ullal has a history of communal harmony but a few miscreants are making efforts to disrupt it.
About his campaign he said that he has already started campaigning through social media. In coming days he will reach people with various types of campaigns.
Mangaluru: The Mangalore assembly Constituency, the erstwhile Ullal constituency, is where the Communist Party first opened an account in Dakshina Kannada by wining the elections in 1963 with Krishna Shetty as the MLA. In the year 1989, BM Idinabba took the then Ullal constituency into the hands of the Congress Party. But, in the year 1994 the people of the same constituency opted for the Bharathiya Janatha Party, making K Jayaram Shetty its MLA.