Not contesting for district KSP polls again, says T P Ramesh

Kodagu Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishat (KSP) President T P Ramesh, who will complete his tenure soon, said he is not interested in contesting for the next term.

Addressing media persons, he said it is not a good custom to conduct election for a literary body. A unanimous candidate will be chosen as the president of the district Kannada Sahitya Parishat.

“If the election becomes inevitable, we are ready for it too. The district unit president’s election may be held in January or February,” Ramesh said. “Many senior litterateurs have asked me to contest for the next term. But I have decided not to contest,” he said.

“The district Kannada Sahitya Parishat had 98 members when I became its president for the first time. I conducted a membership campaign and now, there are 1,710 members. Six district and 17 taluk Kannada Sammelanans were conducted during my tenure. The 80th Akhila Bharat Kannada Sahitya Sammelana was held in Kodagu in this period,” he explained.

“Though I belong to Congress party, I have not carried out any politics in the Parishat and I have been inviting leaders from BJP and other parties also,” he said.

He said Rs 6.5 lakh has been saved in the district unit of Kannada Sahitya Parishat. Rs 3 lakh was collected from the sale of books during the 80th Kannada Sahitya Sammelana, he added.

Ramesh said that 60 cent land has been transferred to the name of Kannada Sahitya Parishat. A total of Rs 10 lakh has been collected and it can be used for the construction of the Zilla Kannada Sahitya Parishat Bhavan, he added.

All preparations have been done for the construction of the Bhavan, he said and added that the administrative board will soon initiate the work. Ramesh paid visit to the site earmarked for the Bhavan near Field Marshal K M Cariappa Circle.

Parishat honorary secretary B A Shamshuddin and other office-bearers were present in the press conferece.