The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : A cobbler's foray into politics

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 08, 2006
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

A cobbler's foray into politics

K. Manikandan

M. Chakrapani, a cobbler contesting as an Independent candidate in the Tambaram municipality. — Photo : A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM: A 37-year-old cobbler from Tambaram is eyeing the councillor post.

Contesting as an Independent with `table lamp' as his symbol from Ward No. 15, this is M. Chakrapani's first foray into politics.

Born and brought up in East Tambaram, Chakrapani studied till the seventh standard at the Tambaram Municipal Middle School (now High School) in Selaiyur.

While in school, he used to fetch rubber solutions and other materials for the shop set up by his father, C.Munuswamy in 1981. After he completed VII standard, his father asked him to stay back in the shop permanently. His friends are confident that soft-spoken Chakrapani will make a mark in public life.

"My friends urged me to contest for the post of councillor and I am campaigning on a very positive note," he said.

But Chakrapani has had to bear with some cruel remarks. Some of his detractors ask him his status in contesting for the post and some others wonder what people like him could do in society. " I may not be highly educated, but I know how to read and write. Though I was hurt by such remarks, I did not take them too seriously."

Focus

His focus is to keep the streets in his ward free from garbage and sewage, which, according to him, is a pressing problem.

Chakrapani says he had mended the shoes of local people of three generations now. "Unlike politicians who fall at the feet of people only during elections, I touch their feet throughout my life. I hope this will get me a positive response," he said.

According to J.A. Kumar, a friend of Chakrapani, "This is the strength of democracy. More people from all walks of life should contest in civic polls and break the stranglehold of politicians."

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