Suresh Kumar, a veteran BJP MP from Rajajinagar seat who has been speaking out against "VIP culture" has publicly refused to accept IPL tickets and passes offered to legislators at home. It has seen a debate rippling throughout Karnataka on the perks politicians get.
Kumar wrote to the Speaker saying that he does not want to accept any tickets or passes for the current Indian Premier League games. He condemned the persistence of VIP status under Siddaramaiah whose government often presents itself as socialist.
The MLA was shocked at all the special treatment with politicians in such a government. But he also mentioned a moment that party celebrations with Royal Challengers Bengaluru were not a success: many died and politics got politicised of the government in the end.
However, he added that such conversations about public concerns brought forward by the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) in this morning Assembly session were soon replaced by concerns on IPL tickets and not about “respect” for MLAs but games purely.
He said the government was too quick to give the tickets to MLAs two per member at first time and in future up to five rather than waiting for public complaints. But the very move sends the wrong message if anything.
Kumar says that having declined such a hand “I respectfully decline these tickets. I don’t need them." “If you continue these VIP business, you’re not going to trust politicians forever,” he told the Star. He urged the rest of the legislators to be “public servants” who have the duty and responsibility to act in a friendly way.
His perspective has resonated with many people, and it strikes a chord with those who have long associated him not only as someone who’s in other people’s places, but rather as a person who can be seen as a model of accountability and simplicity. On the other hand, that has started another debate about whether privileges should change for candidates if we’re to win the public’s trust and not only elections are taking place with them (the same argument is true of the people; so are they doing in terms of why all parties should be involved with candidates).
