Sundaram plunges into politics from largest constituency

Chennai, May 7 (UNI) Being a computer engineer V Ravi Sundaram could have chosen Software for a lucrative career. Instead, his urge to serve the people drove him to take the plunge into the 'unsporting' world of electoral politics, from the largest constituency in Chennai city in Tamil Nadu.

Pitted against the seasoned B Ranganathan (DMK) and INTUC rebel Leader G Kaalan (AIADMK) at Villivakkam in a field of 22 candidates for the May eight Assembly polls, the 39-year-old BJP candidate is more optimistic than being realistic about creating an upset.

Ravi Sundaram, who joined the BJP in 1991 and became the Tiruvallur (East) District President of the party, is on a mission to serve the people.

His contesting the polls was also to send a clear cut message and create awareness that educated people should take to politics and also to remove the notion that politics was not a corrupt and spoiled profession.

''You see in US and UK, a lot of educated people are into politics who come with a long term vision and mission. But in India they (educated) shun politics. I wanted to bring in an attitudinal change among the educated people'', Mr Ravi argued, during a chat with UNI, amid his tight campaign schedule.

Since the constituency was the largest, the opportunities to serve the people were phenomenal. ''It is the only constituency where people from all strata of society live. It has a good urban and rural mix'', he says.

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