Captain
GR Gopinath, a pioneer of low-cost air travel in India, has opted to
jump into the political fray in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections as an
independent from one of the constituencies in Bangalore, sources close
to him said.
Having realised the dream of making the common man travel by air,
Gopinath is now readying himself to meet another challenge -- winning
ana election and having a voice in Parliament. He may contest either
from Bangalore South or Bangalore Central, with their large educated
migrant population.
In a press conference held recently, Capt Gopinath said, "The
decision to contest elections as an independent is borne out of my
frustration, agony and pain after the Mumbai terror attack. Many
incidents of communal intolerance in Karnataka have also grieved and
pained me individually. I know fighting elections is not easy. It is
difficult to win and chances of losing are more. I am not going there to
lose, but I am going to fight. I hope I will inspire a large number of
educated youth." Elections are not completely new for this
ex-serviceman. In the 1994 Assembly elections, before embarking upon his
aviation dreams, he had contested from Gandasi in Hassan district on a
BJP ticket but lost.
