Who is Captain Brijesh Chowta? BJP’s pick for Dakshina Kannada seat
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Mar 14, 2024: On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced its list of 20 candidates from Karnataka for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, among whom Capt. Brijesh Chowta stands out as the nominee for the Dakshina Kannada constituency.
Chowta’s nomination replaces incumbent MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, marking a significant development in the political landscape of the region.
Who is Captain Brijesh Chowta?
A graduate in science, 42-year-old Chowta joined the BJP in 2013 as a member of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). Currently, he serves as the State Secretary in Karnataka of the BJP.
Earlier, he also served in several other capacities in the BJP, including the District General Secretary of Dakshina Kannada, from where he has been fielded in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
He also describes himself as an "entrepreneur" and a "cultural and political activist" in X bio.
Military carrier
Chowta served in the Indian Army for seven years, from 2003 to 2010. After passing out from the Officer Training Academy, he was commissioned into the 7th Battalion of 8 Gorkha Rifles. During his short military stint, Chowta served in the counter-insurgency operations in Manipur and Assam respectively.
Returning to his hometown in 2011 after voluntary retirement, Captain Brijesh Chowta aligned himself with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP. His leadership roles include serving as the Dakshina Kannada District General Secretary of Yuvamorcha in 2013 and the Dakshina Kannada District BJP General Secretary from 2016 to 2019. In the 2023 assembly election, he worked as an in-charge in the Byndoor constituency.
Captain Chowta’s involvement extends beyond politics, as seen in his active participation in social, educational, religious, and cultural initiatives. He played a pivotal role in organizing the protest against the ban on the coastal folk sport of Kambala in 2015. Notably, he has organized the MangalurU Kambala for six consecutive years, showcasing his commitment to local traditions.
After coming out of the Army, Chowta also joined the Executive Business Management programme at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Indore.
’I’ll be committed to Hindutva and my priority is development’: Chowta
On Wednesday, talking to reporters soon after announcement of his candidature, Mr. Chowta said he will stay committed to Hindutva and his priority will be development.
Mr. Chowta said the party has put a big responsibility on his shoulders. “I will ably discharge it with the support of the party and workers,” he said. In the party he has learnt a lot by handling different responsibilities. .
Mr. Chowta thanked the national and State party leaders, BJP legislators of the region, and the party workers for reposing faith in him and providing an opportunity to contest from the prestigious Dakshina Kannada constituency.