‘Cut down KSP poll expenses’

Sangamesh Badavadagi, former secretary of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP), who is contesting election for the post of the president of the parishat, said that spending over Rs.40 lakh to conduct the polls was colossal.

Calling the expense to conduct these polls ‘unjustifiable,’ Mr. Badavadagi said that it would be difficult to hold literary events if huge amount was spent on holding the elections.

Suggesting that a new election system should be evolved to bring down the expenses to Rs.10 lakh, Mr. Badavadagi said that he had discussed the matter with many writers and scholars. He further assured that he would bring in the new election system, among many other reforms, if he is chosen as the next KSP president. “Just 28 per cent of the population in Benglauru speak Kannada … many, who have migrated from neighbouring states, have not learnt Kannada,” he said, adding that there was an urgent need to set up Kannada learning schools in Bengaluru, particularly in areas which are home to several software companies.

Publication of good Kannada books, holding review of such books and honouring eminent writers are his top priorities, he said, adding that these activities are not being held on the expected scale.

If elected, Mr. Badavadagi said that he has plans to set up a unit of the parishat at Kannada study centres in universities across the State. “The parishat has failed to give proper reservation for women. I will reserve at least four districts for women and involve more women in Kannada literary works,” he said.

“Earlier, there were over 97,000 electorate in the parishat and now it has increased to 1,97,000 … by the next elections it may touch the four lakh mark,” he said.

He advocated reserving one or two pages in the parishat’s magazine for candidates to make an appeal to the members to vote in their favour. This would lessen the burden on the contesting candidates.