Forty-year-old Darshan Puttannaiah, son of the late Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha president K.S. Puttannaiah, has returned to India from the U.S. to take a plunge into electoral politics. Mr. Darshan, who moved to the U.S. in 2002 and set up three software firms there, is contesting from Melkote Assembly constituency of Mandya district. Mr. Darshan says his priority is to use technology to solve farmers’ problems.
Excerpts from an interview
What made you to take up politics?
My father never compromised when it came to fighting for farmers. After his death, well-wishers came to me and said we need to take forward his struggle for farmers.
Hence I decided to contest polls. This is not dynasty politics because there was no need for me to enter politics to lead a good life as I was already doing well in my field.
Politics is just a path to the goal of realizing my father’s dreams.
But you have stayed away from the home town as well as country for a long time. How will you connect with people and issues?
I always kept in touch with local issues, especially the farming sector, through my father. Even in the U.S., I had set up a non-profit trust that focused on providing solutions to farmers’ problems through technology. In fact, I had decided to return to India to involve myself with farm sector.
What are the main issues for you in the polls?
Farm crisis is the main issue followed by health, education and water requirements. We need to bring in a new perspective into tackling farmers’ issues. Mere loan waiver is of no use if you do not fix remunerative Minimum Support Prices as farmers would again become defaulters.
On one hand, we need to improve the incomes of farmers through value addition to crops by setting up processing units. On the other, we need to encourage start-ups to operate from rural areas. It is all about creating self-sustaining villages and building models that can be replicated elsewhere. If you go to any villages, you see men sitting idly as they are jobless. We need to promote entrepreneurship in rural areas. Similarly, a lot of awareness has to be created on making villages plastic-free and conservation of water.
Is your approach to campaigning as well as polls different from others?
I am giving emphasis on meeting people. I believe that we must not indulge in politics after polls.
How do you feel that several prominent social activists and writers besides the ruling Congress are supporting you?
I am really happy and this has increased my responsibility. The onus is on me to live up to be worthy of their support and confidence.
What are your other preoccupations?
Travelling, hiking and reading. My earlier focus in reading was on how to build companies and sustain them. Now, I am trying to understand Basavanna and Ambedkar in the context of present day life and social problems.
