Chaitra Kundapura

Some Lesser Known Facts About Chaitra Kundapura

• Chaitra Kundapura is a former Indian news anchor and journalist who worked for Kannada television news channels. She is a prominent Hindutva activist in Udupi district, Karnataka. In September 2023, she made headlines in the BJP Ticket Fraud Case.

• In 2014, she won the Traditional Queen contest.

  

• After completing her formal education, Kundapura started working at Samaya News 24X7, a Kannada television news channel.

• In 2016, she became a news anchor at Spandana TV, a media company.

  

• Later, she moved to Kundapura town in Udupi district, Karnataka, where she continued her journalism work.

• In 2015, she started working as a sub-editor at the Kannada daily newspaper Udayavani in Manipal, Karnataka.

  

• In 2013, she was appointed as a National Executive Committee Member of  Akhil Bharathiya Vidhyarthi Parishath (ABVP). By 2015, she had progressed to become a member of its Central Working Committee (CWC). As an ABVP member, Chaithra actively led protests following the deaths of two students, Rathna Kothari in 2014 and Akshatha Devadiga in 2015.

• In 2018, Chaitra received significant recognition from BJP leaders, including Shobha Karandlaje, for her stance against the September 9 Bharat bandh organized by the Congress and other political parties in response to rising fuel prices.

• In 2020, she took on the role of SEO Marketing Manager at KLH Infotech Limited.

• Additionally, she also worked at the UBMC School in Kundapur, Karnataka.

• Her social media profiles are filled with numerous images from rallies, public engagement activities, and campaigns, some of which have an anti-Muslim sentiment. She frequently delivers proactive speeches at events organized by right-wing groups such as Ramakshatriya Seva Sangha (Puttur), Bajrang Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Chaitra first gained widespread attention in October 2021 when she delivered a controversial speech on ‘Love Jihad’ that heightened communal tensions. In the speech, she suggested that Hindu groups could also convert Muslims and make them wear kumkum (vermilion). Chaitra Kundapura speaking at Vaishwik Hindu Rashtra Mahotsav in Goa in 2023

• She also authored a book called “Prema Pasha,” which translates to “Love Loop” on Love Jihad.

  

• She actively campaigned for the BJP in Uttar Kannada during elections.

• During her campaign, she frequently appeared alongside different Hindutva figures such as Pramod Muthalik, the founder of Sri Rama Sena, and Sharan Pumpwell from Bajrang Dal.

• It was reported that a District Collector issued an order preventing Chaitra from entering the Aland taluk in Kalaburagi from 27 February to 3 March 2022 saying it was crucial to preserve peace and harmony in the area as Kundapura is known to deliver anti-Muslim speeches.

  

• Kundapura’s Cash-for-MLA Ticket Scam first garnered attention in July 2023 when a Hindu leader from coastal Karnataka named Satyajit Suratkal contacted Rajashekharananda Swamiji of Vajradehi Math, asking him to return Rs 1.5 crore that he had received from Poojary. Confused, Rajashekharananda Swamiji informed Suratkal that he had only met Poojary once at Kollur and had no knowledge of the money. Subsequently, it was clarified that the person involved in the matter was actually another seer, Abhinav Halasree Swamiji, and not Rajashekharananda Swamiji.