Sudipto Mondal/The Hindu

• CPI(M) candidate Yadav Shetty has Rs. 500 in cash and Rs. 538 in bank account
• Shetty has borrowed a cellphone
• ‘My poverty will work in my favour’

Mangalore, May 5: “In the world of giants, the dwarf stands tallest,” goes the adage. Candidates from across the State are making headlines for the riches they own. But Yadav Shetty, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) candidate from Mangalore constituency, is getting noticed for the opposite reason.

With Rs. 1,038 in the assets column against his name, Mr. Shetty might top the list of politicians who are not rich. Mr. Shetty does not see himself as a candidate at the bottom of the list. “It is all a matter of perspective. Inverse the list and you will find me on top,” he says.

Initially, a few minutes passed by with him trying to recall the number of assets he has.

Cellphone

As for the black and white cellphone he possesses, he says: “It is not actually mine. I borrowed it from a friend as I might need it during elections. My friend is now going to buy a cellphone with camera and he has asked him to keep it with me as a gift,” he says.

He wears an unbranded wristwatch, which was also presented to him by a fried, five years ago.

As far as cash is concerned, his wife is richer than him by Rs. 462. She has a life insurance policy worth Rs. One lakh in her name and owns 52-gm gold ornaments. She owns the land on which they have built a house, valued at Rs. 8 lakh. The site was purchased 75 years ago by her grandfather.

Mr. Shetty is the general secretary of the district unit of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha, an affiliate of the CPI (M).

“Service to society and participation in various struggles of Left parties are the only occupation I have ever had,” he says.

Mr. Shetty feels that his ‘poverty’ will work in his favour in the Assembly elections. “People see their reflection in me. I am like them. If democracy is the politics of representation, I am the true representative of the deprived masses,” he says.

He dismisses suggestions that voters are sometimes enamoured by the power and riches of candidates. “Those days are gone,” he asserts.

As regards the party workers, who are campaigning for him and need to be given at least their incidentals, Mr. Shetty says: “Those who are helping me in my campaign are my long-time comrades.”

Advantage

Mr. Shetty says that two factors have benefited him greatly: Delimitation and the clamp-down on excessive campaigning.

Many rural areas, particularly from Vittla, have been added to Mangalore constituency from where he is contesting. A few areas such as Bolar, Jeppu and Bajal have been deleted. “Our party has done a lot of work in rural areas and among unorganised sectors and we have a strong base here,” he says.

He feels that the restrictions on campaigning has provided a level field for poor candidates like him, who cannot spend much money on the campaign trail.

He rates his chances of victory as very high. Mr. Shetty feels that the electorate will vote for change. “Money cannot buy everything,” he concludes.