Karnataka Elections 2018: JNU scholar with doctorate in Human Rights in election fray

A former JNU student, who has been active in Bahujan students' movement for the last 20 years, has entered election fray from Anekal assembly constituency. The constituency is reserved for SC candidates in Bengaluru rural district.

Dr. Srinivas Gundappa (38) has masters in political science and a doctorate in Human Rights from prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. Srinivas pursued the doctorate at Center for European Studies in 'Comparative study of human rights in China and India.

He started his career as a lecturer at MS Ramaiah College of Law and currently, teaching at BMS law college in Basavanagudi. Also, Srinivas was appointed by BSP supremo Mayawati as in charge of North Karnataka region in the run-up to assembly elections.

Srinivas had no clue that he would be contesting the election till the last moment. In fact, he had been campaigning for BSP candidate Y. Krishnamurthy since the BSP-JDS alliance was announced by Mayawati and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda. Srinivas and Y. Krishnamurthy met Deve Gowda and sought his blessings last month.

Now, he will take on senior politicians sitting MLA B Shivanna of Congress and BJP's A Narayan Swamy. Both the national parties are in a direct fight. So far, Srinivas kept himself busy in organizing party workers at booth level. However, due to in a sudden turn of events, he is the election fray.