BANGALORE - From new economy leaders to young volunteers, all are pledging support to Captain G.R. Gopinath, who pioneered India’s low-cost airline Air Deccan, as he prepares to contest the Lok Sabha polls from the high profile Bangalore South constituency.
The 54-year-old former army officer-turned sericulturist and aviation entrepreneur is taking on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar, who is seeking re-election from Bangalore South for the fifth time in a row.
Gorur Ramaswamy Iyengar Gopinath, Gopi to his friends and colleagues, is not deterred by the BJP’s organising capability or the conspiracy theories surrounding his intention to jump into the poll fray.
Among the theories making the rounds is that Gopinath is being propped up by Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa to scuttle Ananth Kumar’s chances. Yeddyurappa, BJP’s first chief minister in southern India, and Ananth Kumar are competing to control the state party unit.
Talking to IANS after announcing he will contest from Bangalore South, Gopinath rubbished this speculation.
‘I am in the fray on behalf of people. I decided to contest after being encouraged and motivated by a cross-section of Bangaloreans. Right from my friends in the IT and BT world to youths of Bangalore, all have asked me to contest,’ he said.
‘I am fighting to win and bring change to society. I am not for any party. Otherwise I would have joined some known political party. I am joining politics to bring good governance and social harmony,’ he said.
The election is his second attempt at the hustings. He contested on the BJP ticket for the Karnataka assembly in 1994 from a constituency in his home district, Hassan. He lost.
On Sunday, Gopinath met about 50 young volunteers who came to pledge their support. ‘The number of young volunteers is growing by the day,’ he said.
‘I am against the current crop of political parties that grease people’s palm and distribute liquor to get votes. I will involve volunteers and garner people’s support to win,’ he added.
Gopinath said that he zeroed in on the Bangalore South constituency after hours of discussions with his close friends, including Biocon chairperson Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Infosys Technologies director T.V. Mohandas Pai, and fashion designer Prasad Bidapa.
Asked why she is supporting Gopinath, Mazumdar-Shaw told IANS: ‘He has always been a change maker. I am sure his win will ensure changes in social, political and economic realms.’
Pai said: ‘All professional people have great admiration for Captain Gopinath. He is the epitome of the middle and professional class. In the last decade Gopinath gave wings to the dreams of the middle class.’
Among the volunteers are 24-year-old IT professional Ajay Nair and 19-year-old college student Subho Saha.
Nair said Gopinath was a symbol of India’s new found growth and development.
‘His work in giving India its first low fare airline is a testimony to his determination to bring growth and development, much needed by the country. We need honest and dedicated leaders. I am going to work as his volunteer to help him win,’ Nair told IANS.
Gopinath’s wife Bhargavi and daughters Pallavi and Krithika will join the campaign.
He intends to target all sections of Bangalore, from IT professionals to slum dwellers.
‘I want to bring prosperity to the rural population also and bring equitable progress for one and all,’ he said.
Bangalore South is among 17 of the 28 constituencies in the state which will vote in the first phase April 23. On April 30, voting will take place in the remaining 11 constituencies.
Gopinath exited the no-frills, low cost airlines business last year, selling his controlling stake in Air Deccan to liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who runs Kingfisher Airlines. He is now busy launching a cargo service which is scheduled to take off May-end.
(Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in)
Related News
Lufthansa group firm to maintain Deccan's cargo fleetJune 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - Deccan 360, the cargo airline founded by low-cost aviation pioneer G.R. Gopinath, has roped in Germany-based Lufthansa Technik for maintaining its Airbus A-310 freighter aircraft fleet and warehousing requirements, including components, the company said Tuesday.
Iranian expats, children living in US cast ballots in Mideast country's presidential electionJune 12th, 2009 Iranian expatriates in US vote in Iran electionLOS ANGELES — Iranian expatriates and their children living in the United States are casting ballots in Iran's heated presidential election. Voters on Friday gathered at 41 voting sites, mostly set up in hotel ballrooms and mosques staffed by volunteers, around the country.
BJP leader Gopinath Munde demands Padam Singh Patil's resignationJune 8th, 2009 MUMBAI - Senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde on Monday demanded that the NCP leader Padam Singh Patil should either resign as MP or his party should expel him. "The status is clear.
BJP's Ananth Kumar retains Bangalore SouthMay 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar retained the Bangalore South seat for the fifth time in a row.
Seven injured in poll-related violence in ChennaiMay 13th, 2009 CHENNAI - Seven people were injured and four cars were damaged during election-related violence between supporters of the ruling DMK and the Islamic MMK here, police said Wednesday. 'MMK volunteers objected to alleged bogus voting by DMK workers, leading to a violent clash between the two groups at Ice House (in central Chennai),' a police official said.
Air Deccan founder Gopinath to launch freight carrierMay 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - After launching India's first budget carrier, Air Deccan founder G.R. Gopinath Friday announced another first for the country - a door-to-door international freight and cargo service with its own fleet of aircraft.
Karnataka sees 51 percent voting in first phaseApril 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - Karnataka recorded 51 percent voting in 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies Thursday with Bangalore registering around 50 percent turnout, a top election official said at the end of the 10-hour polling. Only 50 percent of the 2.03 million eligible voters exercised their franchise in the prestigious Bangalore South constituency, Karnataka chief electoral officer M.N.
Karnataka sees 55-60 percent polling in first phaseApril 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - Karnataka recorded 50 to 55 percent voting in 17 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies Thursday with Bangalore registering around 50 percent turnout, election officials said. 'The overall percentage would be around 50 percent and in Bangalore (with three constituencies) it may touch 50 percent,' an official of the state election office said.
Bangalore has some unusual 'vote seekers'April 21st, 2009 BANGALORE - A small band of volunteers has been knocking on the doors of residents in this IT hib of India with a simple request: 'please vote in the Lok Sabha polls April 23'. No, they are not seeking votes for themselves or for any particular party or candidate.
Keen contest in South BangaloreApril 15th, 2009 BANGALORE - Candidates contesting in Bangalore south constituency are talking about change and making a difference in their aggressive campaigning ahead of general elections.he fight in the constituency is directly between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Ananth Kumar and the Congress party's Krishna Byre Gowda. However, Captain Gopinath, contesting as an independent, is also very popular and has the capability to cause an upset.
No car convoy, no frills, he is CM's sonApril 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Riding a good old Tata Sumo vehicle and without a convoy of cars for company, not many can tell at first glance that an MP, that too the Delhi chief minister's son, is sitting inside. While politicians these days prefer zooming around in luxury cars, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's son and MP from east Delhi Sandeep Dikshit, who is seeking re-election from the same constituency, seems to be a no-frills man.
IT professional to housemaid turn poll volunteers in BangaloreApril 5th, 2009 BANGALORE - A jeans-clad young IT professional and a housemaid with her hair neatly braided may be poles apart in their lifestyle. But they seem to find common ground during election time in India's tech hub.
Captain Gopinath to contest from Bangalore as independentMarch 26th, 2009 BANGALORE - Captain G.R. Gopinath, who pioneered India's low-cost airline Air Deccan, is taking off as a politician.
Air Deccan founder Gopinath to contest LS pollsMarch 26th, 2009 BANGALORE - Low-cost carrier Air Deccan founder Captain G. R. Gopinath has opted to jump into the political fray in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Volunteers check and counsel unruly Metro commutersMarch 5th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Around 250 volunteers of a citizen's forum Wednesday travelled in the Delhi Metro counselling commuters to abide by rules and to maintain discipline during the journey. 'In a bid to sensitise commuters about the etiquette and discipline, members of the Metro Citizens Forum, which has 250 volunteers, travelled in the Metro today (Wednesday), counselling the passengers on better behaviour towards fellow commuters,' Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) spokesman Anuj Dayal said.
Loading ...