Bangalore South candidate Vatal Nagaraj: “Duddilla, Jaathiyilla, that’s why I lost earlier”

by April 11, 2019 Governance
Vatal Nagaraj, known for his hardline pro-Kannada stand, is contesting from Bangalore South parliamentary constituency. In this interview with Citizen Matters, Nagaraj speaks on why he wants to be an MP, and how politics has changed over the decades

Vatal Nagaraj, known for his hardline pro-Kannada stand, is contesting from Bangalore South constituency this election. Nagaraj is contesting in the ticket of his party, the Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha.

Hailing from Vatala in Mysore district, Nagaraj had started his political career in Bengaluru as a corporator in 1964. He had been elected thrice as MLA from the Chamarajanagar assembly constituency, in 1989, 1994 and 2004.

He had contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha election from Bangalore South constituency itself, but had lost to sitting MP Ananth Kumar. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Nagaraj had supported Congress candidates.

Nagaraj is known as a “serial protestor” and is quite famous for his novel style of protests,using props ranging from donkeys to commodes. He is also well-known for his many calls for bandhs, from the 60’s protests against the release of other-language movies dubbed to Kannada, to that against the release of Cauvery water to other states. Last December, he had held a protest demanding representation of leaders from Belagavi, urging the government to appoint a second deputy CM from north Karnataka to address the regional imbalance.

Nagaraj is believed to have held over 10,000 protests for the cause of Karnataka and Kannada. His protests have got media coverage over the decades as well.

Interview with Citizen Matters

Speaking to Citizen Matters, Vatal Nagaraj explains why he wants to be an MP and how politics has changed over the decades that he has been around.

Profile

Assets and liabilities

Year Assets Liabilities
Lok Sabha 2019 Rs 6.5 cr
(Movable Assets: Rs 12.6 lakh)
Immovable Assets: Rs 6.4 cr)		 Rs 13 lakh
Karnataka assembly election 2018 Rs 15.59 cr
(Movable Assets: Rs 7.3 lakh)
Immovable Assets: Rs 15.52 cr)		 Rs 16 lakh
Lok Sabha 2009 Rs 2.27 cr
(Movable Assets: Rs 5 lakh)
Immovable Assets: Rs 2.22 cr)		 Nil

Affidavit: https://suvidha.eci.gov.in/uploads/affidavit/2019/PC/S10/26/S1020190326064453.pdf

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About Manasi Paresh Kumar

Manasi Paresh Kumar was Engagement Editor for Bengaluru Citizen Matters.
Read more by Manasi Paresh Kumar

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