What Daijiworld says on Prasannakumar K B

Paper boy-turned-politician who humbled mighty Eshwarappa

Paper boy-turned-politician who humbled mighty Eshwarappa Daijiworld Media Network – Shimoga (SP) Prasanna Kumar - The new MLA of Shimoga Shimoga, May 10: A boy, who had no political ambitions when young, and who used to earn something by distributing daily newspapers at the doorsteps of his customers, has made headlines in the same newspapers now. His achievement of humbling political stalwart and deputy chief minister of the state, K S Eshwarappa, has compelled people to sit up and take notice. K S Eshwarappa had won four assembly elections from Shimoga city constituency, apart from being MLC. He took pride in claiming to have built the fortunes of BJP in the state in association with B S Yeddyurappa. Eshwarappa’s dream of registering fifth victory from the constituency has been dashed because of a relative newcomer, K B Prasanna Kumar, who not only drubbed Eshwarappa into the oblivion, but also pushed him to the third spot. Prasanna Kumar, who came from a family which did not have any political connection, learnt to be self reliant during his school days. He bagged the job of delivering newspapers to houses to earn something for paying his school fees and buying things he needed. Although he later joined ATNCC College, he could not complete his B Com degree, as his father passed away during this period. He had to undertake the family responsibility. He worked for a few years in a shop in Gandhi Bazaar here, before starting his own STD booth and fancy store. He then turned a contractor, and rose from being a fourth class PWD contractor to first class contractor. He also later got elected as president of the district PWD Contractors Association. Under the tutelage of Bangarappa, Prasanna entered the political field through Congress in 1992. He worked in the youth Congress initially, and grew in stature because of hard and sincere work over the years. In recognition of his service, Congress gave him a chance to fight municipal election from Ashok Nagar ward in the city in 2006, which he won. The people-friendly initiatives he undertook during this period made him popular. He was amenable to anyone from any of the other wards too, and left no stones unturned to solve their problems. In 2013 too he got elected as councillor from Ashok Nagar ward, although the ruling BJP, which had got scent that he was aspiring to become a MLA, tried its best to ruin his chances, even by adding some areas where BJP is strong, to his ward during reorganization. Still, it could not prevent Prasanna from becoming victorious in the recent assembly election. No leaders of national stature came to Shimoga during the assembly election this year to canvass for Congress candidates. Even Siddaramaiah and union minister, Rahman Khan, who visited Bhadravati, did not take up canvassing in the city. Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to visit the city on May 1, but the programme got cancelled. Although many local Congress leaders too remained aloof, Prasanna Kumar rode on the waves of his past work, and got elected to the assembly by defeating senior BJP leader, K S Eshwarappa. It is said that when Prasanna went from door to door in his initial election, many voters invited him inside, recollected the days when he distributed newspapers to their houses, and handed over small amounts to him for meeting election expenses. Perhaps because of the fact that he did not differentiate between people of different wards, and did his best to help everyone who approached him, he could earn a place in the hearts of the voters. Therefore, the people have not forgotten him, as evidenced by his victory. Please check out the comments at http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=173250