Akhila Kodava Samaja urges CM to induct Ponnanna into cabinet

Madikeri: A delegation of the Akhila Kodava Samaja, based in Virajpet, met chief minister Siddaramaiah on Friday evening in Mysuru. They submitted a memorandum requesting the induction of Virajpet MLA and chief minister's legal adviser, Ajjikuttira S Ponnanna, into the cabinet.
"Kodagu was a state until 1956. Since its merger with Mysuru state, development has slowed down. The district had three assembly constituencies earlier, but now it has come down to two," the memorandum read.
"The Kodava community has been deprived of political and govt posts for several years. They have been marginalised by the previous govts for one reason or another. For almost two decades, no Kodava person was given a ministerial position. Kodagu is plagued by floods, landslides, and human- animal conflicts during the monsoon season. In fact, many villages still do not have roads. The roads that exist are not suitable for vehicular traffic," it said.
"Kodagu district, represented by AS Ponnanna, the MLA of Virajpet constituency, who belongs to the Kodava community, a primitive minority, is interested in the overall development of the district with cooperation from the present govt and the chief minister. We request the chief minister to take Ponnanna into the state cabinet," they said in the memorandum.
Akhila Kodava Samaja president Paradanda Subramani Kaveriappa led the delegation.