House of semi-literates and professionals

BANGALORE: One is a first standard pass. The other is MBBS with MS (Master of Surgery). Both will sit in the same hall of power. The education of the newly elected MLAs varies from semi-literate to highly qualified.
Educationally, the new MLAs are way ahead of the previous assembly. There are doctors, engineers, lawyers and diploma holders in the 12th Assembly.
Hanur MLA and wife of slain minister H. Nagappa, Parimala (55), is an MBBS, MS while Vitla (Dakshina Kannada) MLA Padmanabh Kotari is first standard pass.
The 35-year-old Chintamani MLA M.C. Sudhakar, a first-timer, too, holds a masters degree in medicine.
Former chief minister J.H. Patel''s son Mahima Patel (43), who contested from his father''s constituency, Channagiri, holds a degree in engineering.
Same with Shantinagar MLA S. Raghu and Bilgi MLA Murugesh Nirani (40). Both of them are BE. Bharatinagar BJP MLA Nirmal Kumar Surana holds a diploma in Pharma while some have completed their B.Com, LL.B and ITI courses.
Of the brothers, Anil H. Lad and Santosh Lad, both first-time MLAs, who won from the BJP and the JD(S), Anil is an 8th standard pass while Santosh is a graduate.
Barring one or two, all of them have completed class seven examinations. Almost all first-timers are either matriculates or degree holders.
In the 2004 elections, the old have paved the way for the new. The average age of the newcomers is mid-forties. The youngest is Narasimha Naik (25) from Surpur.
The BJP has the largest contingent of freshers: more than 45 members. The JD(S) follows with 23 fresh faces. The Congress has 16 while independents account for five.
Some of these newcomers have replaced former ministers who were holding fort in their constituencies for a long time.
While C.T. Ravi (35) from Chikmagalur defeated housing minister C.R. Sageer Ahmed, D.N. Devaraj (39)defeated law minister D.B. Chandre Gowda Santosh Lad (29) will represent Sandur, which was Congressman M.Y. Ghorpade''s stronghold for years.
In Bangalore alone, of the 12 Assembly constituencies, four MLAs will be entering the assembly for the first time - N L Narendra Babu (42) from Rajajinagar, S Raghu (34) from Shantinagar, Nirmal Kumar Surana (40) from Bharatinagar and Commerce graduate K.Chandrashekar (44) from Basavanagudi.
(Note: Age and educational qualifications of MLAs have been obtained from the nomination filed by them, Karnataka Election Watch and Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore).