Kollegal MLA surveys rain damage from coracle in one-and-half feet water, video goes viral

CHAMARAJANAGAR: Kollegal BJP MLA N Mahesh has come in for a lot of flak after a video of him surfaced where he is seen taking stock of the rain damage while sitting in a coracle in just about one-and-half feet of water.

Four days ago, the MLA went to inspect the rain damage in Mamballi village in Yelandur taluk. However, he chose to sit in a coracle, perhaps not wanting to get his trousers wet, while some locals were pushing the coracle in the water that was not even knee-deep.

Nagesh got off the coracle where the water level was ankle-deep.

After covering some distance, where the water level was about ankle-length-deep, Mahesh stepped out of the coracle into the water. The video has since gone viral drawing much criticism.

At a press conference on Saturday, the MLA defended himself saying he had fever on that day and hence, he did not want to get into the water.

On Saturday, the MLA defended himself saying he had fever on the day he inspected rain damage in Mamballi.

Dismissing questions from reporters, he insisted, “There was water up to the thigh level. The coracle would not even move if the water level was just about one foot high. I don’t do such dramas. Those who are making the video viral are the ones who are doing the drama.”