Bookseller, genial doctor, playback singer give contests a human touch

BENGALURU: A right to water activist who sells books for a living and is observing a ‘maun vrat’ (vow of silence), a genial doctor who wears his stethoscope like his second soul, a playback singer, a right to recall advocate and a physiotherapy professional are among a bunch of mavericks adding a carnivalesque touch to

Lok Sabha elections in Benglauru city

’s three constituencies.


Right to water activist Ambrose D’Mello, popularly known as ‘Silent Ambrose’ and a contestant from Bengaluru South parliamentary constituency, is perhaps the poorest candidate across the country in these general elections. His only asset is Rs 1,729 cash in hand.

D’Mello plans to launch his campaign in a couple of days and it will be shorn of all the noise and din that accompanies barnstorming. D’Mello, known for the ‘maun vrat’ he has undertaken for 14 years, plans to seek votes by standing under a poster that proclaims his one-point manifesto: Providing free drinking water to all. D’Mello goes about barefoot, but he always requests the Election Commission to assign chappal as his symbol. This time though he has been allotted a slate.

Born and brought up in Bengaluru, D’Mello sells books for a living near Ravindra Kalakshetra and resides near Poornima Theatre, off JC Road. Clad in saffron and sporting a flowing beard, Ambrose is a familiar figure among activists in Bengaluru. He had filed his nomination papers from Varanasi constituency in Uttar Pradesh against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, but his nomination was rejected along with 33 others. However, he is still fighting to get back Rs 25,000 he had deposited with the Election Commission. D’Mello holds a master’s in Kannada from Bangalore University.

Replying to a TOI query in writing, D’Mello wrote, “I have made several trips to Varanasi to get my deposit money back. I sell books for a living and whatever I earn goes for my sustenance. I don’t need money to campaign. My silence will speak to the people.”

Asked why he had chosen to contest the elections, he said, “My life has always been a struggle. I want to usher in a few revolutionary things. If I get elected, the first thing I will do is to demand that the Centre ban sale of drinking water. It should be distributed free.”

D’Mello has stated in his nomination papers that he deems the 2016 demonetisation unconstitutional. He personally exchanged legal currency he had with demonetized currency poor people had when the high value notes were banned. He now has demonetised currency worth Rs 40,000.

He says those who get elected are not pro-people and his contest is to highlight this fact. During his campaign, he also cleans public toilets and sweep streets. D’Mello has contested four assembly elections including in 2018 when he was in the fray in Bagalkot. He secured 57 votes.


YET TO FIND A BRIDE

Santosh Min B, 43, a resident of Mico Layout and who holds a diploma in physiotherapy, is contesting the

Lok Sabha polls

after a 10-year gap. In his nomination filed for Bengaluru South constituency, Santosh has declared Rs 780 cash in hand and savings of Rs 3,260 as his assets. The entry in the spouse column reads, “Yet to find one.” Santosh said he polled 1,178 votes when he contested in 2009. He campaigned for smaller parties or independent candidates in later elections. “I oppose the Centre making Aadhaar mandatory,” he said.

MAN WITH STETHOSCOPE

Dr Meer Layaq Hussain, 58, known as ‘Doctor Saab’ in KG Halli area, is contesting from Bengaluru North. He said this is his eighth attempt at making it to the Lok Sabha. Dr Hussain, who completed his MBBS in 2010, said he had also filed for Bengaluru Central, but his papers were rejected. Asked why he is contesting, Hussain said he wants to win and serve people in his area. Also, his parents’ always wanted him to be a people’s representative. With stethoscope as his symbol in every election, Hussain wears it while campaigning. He sports the stethoscope even in his passport-size photograph. Last year, Hussain had contested from Sarvagnanagar assembly constituency and secured 99 votes.
SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE

Playback singer Mellegatti Shridevi, 41, a worker of Uttama Prajaakeeya Party, is contesting from Bengaluru Central. She is a postgraduate in political science from Karnatak University and also has a postgraduation in education from Kuvempu University. Shridevi says this is the first time she is contesting and had to take up rounds of scrutiny, including exams and interviews to get the ticket. She said that while she earns her break singing, she always wanted to do something good for society and is contesting to bring the dream to fruition.

RIGHT TO RECALL
Krishna Murthy V, 39, is among 19 contestants across the country from the Right To Recall Party fighting these elections. A resident of KR Puram, Krishna Murthy is a science graduate and is contesting from Bengaluru North.

“I am contesting with the sole reason of creating awareness among public about the procedures the party is proposing to replace public representatives, public servants and heads of judicial bodies,” he said.