Mangaluru: Actor-turned-activist Ahimsa Chethan has announced plans to launch a new political party in Karnataka, bringing together activists, organisers and leaders of social movements with the stated objective of creating an ‘equal society’ based on the Constitution, justice and equality.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Mangaluru on Saturday, Chethan said the present political situation in Karnataka required an alternative political intervention focused on people-centric governance. He said the proposed party would seek to address issues affecting ordinary citizens while working towards strengthening Karnataka within the framework of the Constitution.
“Governments that are deaf and blind wake up the moment they realise their chair is shaking. Karnataka needs a solution and an alternative. We need a party based on equality and the Constitution,” he said.
New regional party to focus on equality
Chethan said the proposed political organisation would be a regional party rooted in the principles of equality, justice and constitutional values. He said its broader objective would be to build an equal society while ensuring that governance remains accountable to people.
According to him, the party would bring together people-centred activists, organisers and individuals associated with social movements from across Karnataka. The name of the new political party is yet to be announced, though he said it would reflect the principles on which the organisation is being built.
He added that the registration process for the party is currently under way.
Preparatory meetings are being conducted in different parts of Karnataka, including Dakshina Kannada and Udupi. Chethan said these meetings were intended to bring together people interested in the proposed political alternative and discuss the issues that the new party should take up.
A major convention is proposed to be held in Hubballi in January, where the political party is expected to be formally launched.
Chethan opposes proposed Bidadi township
Chethan also strongly opposed the proposed Bidadi township project, arguing that development should not come at the expense of farmers and their land.
He said farmers should not be forced to give up their land for large-scale development projects. According to him, acquiring agricultural land in the name of development and subsequently constructing buildings could benefit powerful interests while adversely affecting farming communities.
“My demand is that Bidadi should not become a township and farmers should not lose their land. Taking away farmers’ land in the name of development, constructing buildings and benefiting the land mafia is not right. The project itself is wrong,” he said.
He alleged that Bengaluru was being “destroyed in the name of development”, while several other regions of the State continued to face neglect.
Chethan specifically referred to Dakshina Kannada and the coastal belt, along with North Karnataka, Central Karnataka, Kalyana Karnataka and the old Mysuru region. He argued that development policies should be more evenly distributed across Karnataka instead of concentrating resources and opportunities in a few areas.
He also criticised what he described as the growing influence of political parties based in Delhi. He alleged that such parties were primarily interested in expanding their political control and securing power for political and personal gains.
Calls for constitutional political intervention
Chethan said political intervention was necessary when governments failed to adequately address public concerns. He maintained that protests and social movements should be rooted in constitutional principles rather than being limited to campaigns against individual political leaders.
He said removing one minister would not necessarily resolve a systemic problem because another person could take the same position without changing the underlying system.
“A protest should not be aimed at a minister or simply at removing them. If one minister steps down, another will come. But the system will remain the same,” he said.
He argued that movements should therefore focus on structural reforms and policy changes rather than personalities.
Cautious response on FCRA Bill
When asked about the Centre’s proposed FCRA Bill concerning organisations receiving foreign donations and financial assistance in India, Chethan said he would not comment immediately.
He said he needed to study the proposed legislation before expressing an opinion. He also stressed that his approach would not be to automatically oppose every decision taken by either the Central or State government.
“I need to study it. I will respond after that. I will not say that everything done by the Central and State governments is wrong, nor will I say that everything they do is right,” he said.
His response indicated that the proposed political platform would seek to examine government policies on individual issues rather than adopt an approach of unconditional opposition.
Chethan questions NEET system
Chethan also raised concerns about the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) system and said the debate should go beyond allegations concerning question paper leaks.
He said constitutional forms of protest were important in a democracy but cautioned against reducing public movements to demands for the removal of an individual minister.
According to Chethan, the larger question was whether the existing examination system itself was appropriate for all regions of the country.
He said the NEET system was flawed and argued that education policies should take India’s federal structure into consideration.
“To correct this, we should not look only at the interests of North India. We should look at the country as a federation and create a system, similar to the CET, that gives students from our own State priority within Karnataka,” he said.
His comments indicate that the proposed political party could also focus on education policy and regional interests, particularly issues affecting students in Karnataka.
Party preparations underway across Karnataka
The announcement marks Chethan’s move towards direct political participation after his involvement in activism and public issues. The proposed party is expected to build its organisational base through meetings and consultations across Karnataka before the formal launch.
The planned Hubballi convention in January is expected to be an important milestone in the process. Until then, the registration of the organisation and discussions with activists and social movement leaders are likely to shape its structure, name and political agenda.
Chethan’s proposed political intervention comes with a stated emphasis on equality, constitutional values, regional interests, farmers’ rights and systemic reforms. The party’s eventual impact, however, will depend on its organisational strength, political programme and ability to establish a presence beyond activist circles.