Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 13: There has been a spurt in complaints about lack of response from local MP, Shobha Karandlaje, to the problems faced by the people of her constituency. Even when the issue of toll charges has been raging on in her constituency, she has largely remained aloof, people have been saying. Instead of coming out with work done by her for her constituency, and the way in which she has been handling issues concerning her electorate, it is gathered that Shobha, in a recent WhatsApp post, said that Lord Manjunatha of Dharmasthala will handle her critics.

Thee have been widespread grouse among the people about the fact that Shobha, who won with a huge margin from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru constituency last time, has neither been active in her constituency, not properly throbbing to the problems of the people here. Rumblings that are loud and clear are not only coming from the opposition, but from her own party cadres.

In the recent past, there has been an upsurge in the number of adverse comments against Shobha in social media and WhatsApp groups. Some have voiced regret for having voted for her. Many have expressed the opinion that things would have been different if Jayaprakash Hegde was the representative of this Lok Sabha constituency. Many have poured out their impatience at the total absence of the MP from the turmoil relating to collection of toll charges, and many have wondered the very purpose of her getting elected from here, if she is unable to serve her constituency.

The fact that Shobha chose to handle her criticisms in a different way through her WhatsApp message has not helped her cause. In a WhatsApp group where discussions on tollgate are on, Shboha reportedly said that all comments directed at her have been dedicated to Lord Manjunatha of Dharmasthala and that the Lord will reply to their comments, duly asking them to direct all their complaints to the Lord.

People believe that she resorted to the tactics of seeking refuge in the divine power and religious vow in an effort to gag her critics. The screen shot of her comment is going viral.

The MP's choice of seeking intervention of the deity of a famous temple instead of fielding her criticisms on her own in a constructive way have come in for flak from the general public. The people of her constituency point out that a people's representative is expected to work determinedly to mitigate the problems of his or her electorate, and making comments like the one above is unbecoming of the position she holds. The people hope that the MP will stop entrusting her work to the Lord and take steps to face the people and prove her mettle through sincere work.

Despite repeated attempts by daijiworld to reach Shobha Karandlaje for her response on the issue, the MP did not answer calls.