With elections around the corner, JD(S) pitches Namma Appaji canteen against Indira canteens in Karnataka

If the Congress have their Indira Canteens, the Janata Dal (Secular) now has their very own Namma Appaji Canteen, courtesy gold merchant and MLC TA Sharavana. The first model canteen of the project, that Sharavana decided to fund entirely on his own, is expected to begin operations in Basavanagudi constituency in Hanumanthanagar.

A technical team is already at work and the project is being personally supervised by the leader who wants the canteen to be ready by August 2.

"This canteen will be useful for those people who need it the most like auto rickshaw drivers, roadside vegetable vendors and many who just cannot afford a good meal every day," Sharavana told India Today. He decided to name the canteen after the former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda who is fondly called Appaji in the family and by his close friends.

Sharavana said he had been thinking of opening this canteen for over a year now ever since the party supremo made a suggestion. Every year on Vaikunta Ekadasi, Sharavana donates 1 lakh ladoos to devotees of the Tirumala temple. This was noticed by the HD Deve Gowda who suggested that while this was a noble gesture, Sharavana could also feed the poor. Sharavana instead decided to charge a small amount, rather than giving free food, because then he says people will value it. After assessing how well the first canteen operates, he plans to open many more in all the 28 Assembly constituencies and then in various districts across the state.

WHAT IS ON THE MENU?

The Namma Appaji Canteen will initially be open from 7.30 am to 2.30 pm. They will serve idlis, vadas, karabath and kesaribath for Rs 5 each till 10 am. Tea and coffee will be sold for just Rs 3. Lunch will begin 12.30 onwards and on the menu will be ragi mudde, rice and sambar along with Pongal and Bisibelebath for Rs 10.

On the difference between the Congress government's Indira canteens, Sharavana told India Today that it would be wrong to even compare Namma Appaji canteen with that since he is singlehandedly financing this whole operation in the name of the JD(S) party supremo.

"He (HD Deve Gowda) has done so much for society and I am one of his followers," he says adding, "I am not interested in elections and this is in no way political." According to him, the canteen is a work of charity and for a noble cause in society.

Sharavana also knows how important such canteens have worked in favour of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. He is of the opinion that if Namma Appaji Canteen, "helps the party, then it is well and good."

While the JD(S) is moving on this project full steam ahead, the Congress' Indira Canteen is in danger of not meeting the CM's deadline of August 15. As per our sources, out of 198 wards, construction work has begun only in 38 wards. But the Corporation officials are an optimistic lot and are certain of meeting the deadline given to them.

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