Ex-IAS officer Shivaram opens ‘Modi canteen’ in Anekal to woo voters

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: Former IAS Officer K. Shivaram who has the rare distinction of passing the civil services examination by writing in Kannada in the 1990s, has started a canteen in the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Anekal town in Bengaluru Rural district to prepare the ground for the 2023 Assembly polls.

The officer, in order to pursue his political ambition, took voluntary retirement and joined the Congress Party. Within six months, he quit the Congress and joined Janata Dal (Secular) contesting the 2013 Assembly polls only to be beaten at the hustings. In 2016, he quit the JD(S) and joined the BJP with the blessings of former CM, B.S.Yediyurappa. Now, Shivaram is eyeing Anekal constituency which had been vacated by Narayanaswamy after he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Chitradurga in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Shivaram is optimistic of getting the ticket to contest the 2023 Assembly polls on a saffron party ticket. The canteen has been opened in Anekal town and has been christened ‘Modi Canteen.’ It offers a variety of food items at affordable prices.

During Congress rule between 2013 and 2018, then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had opened ‘Indira Canteens’ and sold food at highly subsidized rates. Later, these canteens became white elephants with the government bearing Rs 50 per plate (breakfast, lunch and dinner included) . The subsidized food lost its sheen following the change of government and the quality of food too declined.

Former JDS MLC, T.A.Saravana had opened ‘Appaji canteen’ (in the name of JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda) in Bengaluru to offer traditional food like rice, sambar, ragi balls and other items at subsidized rates. But it was closed down due to high maintenance costs.

Now, Shivaram, who has acted in ten Kannada movies, has launched the project in Anekal and expects lady luck to favour him, The ‘Modi canteen’ is situated near the taluk office to help poor labourers, common people, autorickshaw drivers, farmers, workers and students. While Rs 10 per plate has been fixed as the rate for breakfast, Rs 15 is the rate for lunch and dinner and Rs 5 for coffee/tea.