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CASHING IN: Kantha says people want educated and competent politicians like him.

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Keywords: Politics, Minority Welfare Department

Jaipur (Orissa): Debabrata Kantha, a Secretary in the Minority Welfare Department of Andhra Pradesh has decided to walk away from his cushy government job to become a politician - an avenue which he feels will bring him closer to the people in his hometown, Jajpur in Orissa.

"I can feel that people are looking for a positive change. They want someone competent and educated to do something good for the area. I am cashing in on that sentiment," says he.

But this transition comes at a price. Kantha owes the Indian Government Rs 20 lakh after the Government had financed his Master's degree in New York. Kantha had then signed a bond to serve as an IAS officer till 2010 or forfeit the amount.

Now he has taken a loan to honour that bond and people are appreciating his decision.

A resident of Jajpur, Sanjay Nayak says, "Kantha was an IAS officer and was leading a luxurious life. It was not a necessity for him to come to politics. But we think if competent people like him join politics, it can make a difference. We need people like him."

Now Kantha is likely to contest the 2009 Orissa Assembly Elections on a Congress Ticket.

(With inputs from Namratha Kilpady)