Kattis backing me: Mahantesh Kavatgimath

Belgaum: Member of the Legislative Council, Mahantesh Kavatgimath is contesting an assembly bypoll for the first time in his over three decade old political career. A member of the Congress party for 30 years, he switched to the BJP in 2008 after he was denied a ticket for the Assembly election. Active in the KLE Society for 28 years, he is now a member of the society’s Board of Management. He spoke to Deccan Chronicle while taking a break from his hectic campaign in the Chikkodi-Sadalga constituency. Excerpts:

Actually, I was keen on contesting the Assembly election in 2008 on a Congress ticket but was denied the opportunity. A split in the BJP during the last Assembly election put me in a dilemma on whether I should contest or not. In the meanwhile, I took a chance in the last MLC election and won. My father Mallayyaswami, who gave a new dimension to the cooperative sector could not enter electoral politics as Chikkodi was a reserved constituency at the time. Now that it is not reserved, I felt it was time I contested and contributed to the development of my constituency.

The bypoll is not between me and Prakash Hukkeri but between me and Ganesh Hukkeri. You can't make an attempt to excel on your father's marks card. In my case, I have worked for people of this constituency for many years and brought many changes in the cooperative sector. People are aware of the work which Prakash Hukkeri could not take up despite being a legislator for years.

My rival may be trying to misuse his relationship with the Kattis but I don't think there is any understanding between the two families. Both the Katti brothers are with the BJP and fully supporting me.