From Five-Paise Food Agitations to Legislative Politics: Newly Elected MLC P.V. Mohan Shares Emotional Journey

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Mangaluru : Following his recent election to the Karnataka Legislative Council, newly minted MLC and AICC Secretary P.V. Mohan received a resounding welcome upon his maiden visit to the District Congress Office in Mallikatte on Friday. Addressing senior leaders and party workers, an emotional Mohan refused traditional garlands and bouquets, stating that the Congress office is his temple and the party is his mother. Emphasizing his grassroots connection, he identified himself as a ground-level worker who rose through relentless social struggles despite having no familial background in politics, noting that his passion for student activism during his college days naturally steered him toward public life.

Reflecting on his early days as an activist, Mohan fondly reminisced about his very first public agitation, which centered around fighting inflation for the common student. While serving as the president of the All-College Students’ Association, he spearheaded a fierce three-day student protest against sudden price hikes in local hotel menus. The intensity of the agitation prompted the District Commissioner to intervene and convene a meeting, leading hotel owners to slash the prices of idli and dosa by five paise. He credited this historic student movement as his first political triumph, noting that his evolution from protest politics has now granted him a larger platform in mainstream governance to serve the populace.

However, the newly elected legislator did not mince words when describing the overwhelming pressures of entering office, stating that his first nine days as an MLC felt like a harrowing ordeal. He revealed that immediately after his ticket was announced, he was approached by various contractors and brokers briefing him on MLC funds, special grants, personal assistant placements, and administrative transfers. This sudden exposure to the commercialized side of politics gave him a reality check regarding the immense systemic pressures faced by modern lawmakers. Expressing a sense of anxiety about this new political environment, Mohan admitted that these initial nine days have been nothing short of a taxing experience, giving him a glimpse of the heavy challenges ahead.