By P.T. Bopanna
In the recent past, a couple of my reports may have shown Virajpet MLA from Kodagu district A.S. Ponnanna (in picture) in a negative light. I wish to point out that I am in no way targeting Ponnanna, who has emerged as a ‘role model’ for other MLAs in Karnataka.
Within a short period of five years in politics, Ponnanna has shown how a people’s representative should function by reaching out to all sections of society.
Way back in 2020, when the Congress party leaders sent him to Kodagu to revive the party, I had in my report stated that “Ponnanna is the new face of Congress in Kodagu.”
Ponnanna almost single-handedly revived the Congress fortune in a short period of three years.
When he was not inducted into the Cabinet by chief minister Siddaramaiah, I had stated in my report: “Ponnanna who was mainly responsible for dislodging the BJP in Kodagu (Coorg) in the recent Assembly elections, should have been appointed a cabinet minister because it was no ordinary matter to defeat the saffron party in its bastion.”
Though I had commended the performance of Ponnanna, I lashed out at him when he tried to gang up with the discredited previous Virajpet BJP MLA K.G. Bopaiah, to oppose the Kasturiangan report on preserving the Western Ghats.
Journalists are supposed to play the role of watchdog. Whenever I feel an elected representative is working against public interest, I never hesitate to criticise. Whatever criticism Ponnanna has faced, should be taken in that spirit.
In conclusion, whoever goes against the interest of Kodagu, should be prepared to face the consequences.
When previous Kodagu Lok Sabha member Pratap Simha failed to live up to the expectations of people of Kodagu, I welcomed the decision of the BJP leadership to give the party ticket to Yaduveer Wadiyar.