A fourth semester Bachelor of Law student, Surya Mukundaraj, 21, may be the youngest candidate contesting the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls.
A student of the University Law College, Surya filed his nomination papers on Monday to contest from Nagarbhavi ward number 128, as an independent candidate, in the presence of his supporters and writer-activist Prof Shivaramaiah.
“My family and friends have supported me even when I was elected as a student leader with the JD(S) on campus. I now want to be a representative of the youth and student community in the BBMP,” he says.
Aside from the usual door-to-door campaigning, Surya has been tapping into social networking sites to reach out to young voters.
“Politics has become a business of sorts where candidates try to recover their investments through corruption. I want to be part of the administration as a corporator and bring about positive changes,” he says.
He is confident about balancing academics and elections, such that he emerges a winner in both pursuits. “I intend to complete my course and also do my bit in politics. I don’t think it would be difficult to manage both,” he says.
Surya has been able to raise Rs5 lakh for campaigning purposes. He says his professors and classmates are vouching for him to win the polls. “My friends took out a bike rally for me today. About 50 of them will help me with the campaigning,” he says.
On his plans for his ward, Surya says that he wants it to be recognised as an education hub. “The ward houses educational institutions like NLS, NAAC and the Bangalore University campus. I don’t think commercial establishments like malls should be set up here. Also, Nagarbhavi was recently added to the corporation; hence, there are some developmental issues that need to be addressed,” he says.
Surya’s political role models include former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, former chief minister S Bangarappa and, freedom fighter VS Krishna Iyer.
Surya completed his schooling from Oxford English School and higher education at the Government PU College, before taking up legal studies at the University Law College. His father is a lecturer at the Government PU College at Attigupe and his mother is a homemaker.
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