EO revokes order on suspension of Yakshagana artiste Acharya

The Moodbidri election officer has revoked the order relating to the suspension of an artiste from the Kateel Yakshagana troupe.

Election Officer V Prasanna had issued a written order recommending the suspension of Yakshagana artist Poorneshwara Acharya for allegedly making a politically motivated statement with an indirect reference to AICC president Rahul Gandhi, while performing in a Yakshagana play. The act attracted action for breach of the model code of conduct.

Wrong allegation

Acharya, an artiste from the sixth Yakshagana troupe of Kateelu Sri Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Yakshagana Mandali, was wrongly alleged of mimicking Rahul Gandhi's dialogue in a Yakshagana play 'Gajendra Moksha Purushamruga Rati Kalyana', staged at Bannadka of Padumarnadu on April 1.

A video clip of Acharya uttering the dialogues in one of the sequences of the Yakshagana play made rounds in the social media, attracting vivid opinions.

A complaint was lodged by a person on the basis of a video clip, to the local village accountant and the PDO. The officials referred the same to the election officer, recommending an action against Acharya. The officials reported the act as the delivery of a politically motivated statement during the Yakshagana play.

Following the same, the artiste was suspended by the troupe on April 1, as per the orders of the election officer.

Different instance

In reality, however, the controversial dialogue "Ivanarva..Ivanarva.." was uttered by the artiste during a different Yakshagana play, 'Devi Mahatme', staged at Kasargod in the first week of March. The video clip of the sequence containing the dialogue was circulated after a gap of several weeks of the play.

On April 1, Acharya was not a part of the Yakshagana group that staged its performance at Padumarnadu as he was performing at Aivarnadu in Puttur.

After realising the mistake, the Election Officer on Wednesday, withdraw his order issued towards initiation of action against the artiste. Accordingly, the troupe chief had withdrawn the suspension of Acharya.

Now, a wave of sympathy has been created in the social media, as the incident of suspension has caused mental trauma to the innocent artiste.

Kateel Temple priest Harinarayana Asranna said that the reason for all the chaos is the complaint submitted to the Election Officer, which contained false information. The authenticity of the complaint was not verified. However, there was no politically motivated dialogue in the Yakshagana play, he stated.

Yaksha Sangama (Moodbidri) convener M Shantaram Kudva said that it was wrong on the part of the election officer for recommending the suspension of the artiste without confirming the authenticity of the received complaint.