Did not enter politics with any expectations: Angara

Not the lobbying kind

It took six consecutive election victories for Sullia BJP MLA S Angara to make it to the state Cabinet, even as some leaders become ministers after just one or two election wins.

Among the most senior legislators of the state, he was recently appointed as Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport Minister after much clamour from his supporters ahead of Cabinet expansion. He spoke to DH’s Akram Mohammed. Excerpts

You are now minister for the first time. Did you have any expectations this time around, as you weren’t inducted in the past?

I did not enter politics with any expectations. I am working as a representative under the principles of BJP. Considering my work, the party fielded me and people have ensured my victory six times. Due to their support, the party has identified me today and given me the position.

Your supporters were hurt that you weren’t made a minister when BJP secured power in the state, first in 2008 and again in 2019. Were you unhappy?

I was not hurt over not being minister even once. Why I am not disgruntled is because I understand the situation of the organisation, why it could not make me minister and under what constraints it assumed power in Karnataka.

So, I should think like the party and not as an individual. Such thinking makes it immaterial whether I was inducted now or in the past. People of the constituency, of course, will want to see their representative as a minister. But I should think differently and as a party worker.

There is disgruntlement in the BJP, especially after the Congress-JD(S) rebels became ministers. Will it not affect the administration?

The style of working of MLAs who came from the Cong-JD(S) coalition and our style of working could be different. But we are all part of the BJP government and we have to go hand in hand by burying any differences.

Do you have any specific plans for the Fisheries, Ports and Inland Transport Departments you will now be heading?

During my recent visit to Udupi on Republic Day, many fishermen met me and aired their grievances. In order to understand their problems, I will be conducting spot visits in the second week of February in the coastal belt. First, I will practically learn about the problems, then offer short-term and long-term solutions.

Any specific demands from fishermen?

Movement of boats towards ports has become a challenge, due to which fishermen from Udupi have requested us to undertake to dredge and help them.

In your constituency Sullia, which is in the eco-sensitive Western Ghats region, landslides have become a major issue.

Along with landslides, the condition of rural roads has become terrible due to water seepage in the soil. We have sought 16 rural roads to be updated as PWD roads, which addresses many problems.

Currently, my focus is for a project to highlight the rich history of Sullia and to build a heritage village. Another major plan is a 110-kV line, which has to pass through the forest between Sullia and Puttur taluks, for which permission from the Central government is required.