Team Mangalorean - Madikeri
from Ashwini Appaiah

Madikeri: MLA Mandepanda Poovaiah Appachu Ranjan who was sworn in as a minister in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet earlier this week was accorded a rousing reception as he arrived in the district on Friday, July 13. He was received by a large number of elected representatives, citizens, well-wishers and friends.

As he arrived at the Koppa Gate in Kushalnagar, the boundary town adjoining Mysore district, hundreds were ready with garlands and bouquets to greet. An 'aarati' welcome by colourfully dressed women to the sounds of a traditional Kodava band added a special touch of ethnicity to the occasion.

Driving through the B M Road in an open vehicle, Appachu proceeded to the Ganapati temple and offered special pooja. ZP president Shanteyanda Ravi Kushalappa, ZP education and health standing committee head Kanti Belliappa, ZP members B B Bharatish, Indiramma, Ballaranda Mani Uttappa, Venkappa Poojray, Mani Nanjappa and B C Sulochana, Somwarpet TP president Lokesh, Kushalnagar town panchayat president Sarita, BJP leader Sunil Subramani, taluk APMC president Bellu Somaiah, Talur Kishore Kumar and others were present on the occasion.

In transit, Appachu was welcomed in Guddehosur, Suntikoppa, Kedakal, Madikeri, Murnad, Madapur and Somwarpet.

As he arrived in the city here, town municipal president H M Nandakumar and other members greeted and welcomed him. Thereafter, Appachu garlanded the statues of Field Marshal Cariappa, Guddemane Appaiah Gowda, General Timmaya and Mangerira Muttanna and later visited the Kote Ganapati temple.

Deputy commissioner K M Chandregowda, ZP CEO K B Anjanappa, district superintendent of police Manjunath Annigeri and officials from various departments greeted the minister with bouquets.

Speaking to our correspondent in Kushalnagar, Appachu Ranjan said that honest efforts would be made to provide all poor people, labourers and the homeless living in Kodagu over the generations with roofs to live under. Even after 65 years of Independence, the poor and the destitute did not have homes. Providing homes to such people would be taken up on top priority, he assured.

He said that he got the minister's post with the blessings of the people of Kodagu, and also recalled the role of former chief minister Sadananda Gowda, legislative council chairman D H Shankaramurty and assembly speaker K G Bopaiah in elevating him. In the remaining 10-11 months of the tenure left, people-friendly work initiated by Sadananda Gowda would be continued, he assured.

At the same time he said that the responsibility was a challenge too. Attention would be given to basic amenities like roads, drinking water, education, power and other needs, he said. He assured of securing additional grants for drinking water and also a medical college for the district. Kushalnagar would be developed as a model town.

Having seen the difficulties faced by the rural folks, he said, he had requested CM Shettar to allot the rural development and panchayat raj portfolio. Yet, he would handle whatever departments he would get in efficient manner, he further said.

Asked about Sadananda Gowda's future, he said that Gowda had given good administration in 11 months and hence he would be rewarded with a suitable position by the high command.

He also said that he would ask the government to revoke the world heritage site status given to Kodagu.

About Appachu Ranjan

Appachu Ranjan was born in Mandepanda family in Chembebellur village of Virajpet taluk in 1957.  A post-graduate, he was a good sportsman, he represented the college in hockey and football. In 1997, he won the best sportsman award in a sports tourney organized for southern Indian MLAs.

Three times MLA, he had entered politics in 1978. He was elected MLA the first time in 1994, and then in1999 and 2008, losing only once in between. He has served as youth BJP president in 1980 and BJP taluk president from 1986 to 1991 and the district BJP president from 1991 to 1995.

He is married to Ponnamma, more familiarly known as Shaila Appachu and has two sons and a daughter. Elder son Poovaiah is  an engineer in the USA and younger son Cariappa is a doctor, also in the USA. His daughter Ksheera is a dentist.

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