Talk local issues to win votes here

Not inflation, not terrorism, the Karnataka electorate is concerned about the problem next door

BANGALORE: A day before campaigning for the first phase of elections to the Karnataka assembly comes to an end, it seems to be a poll driven purely by local considerations.

Issues being talked about by national parties and leaders – mainly the BJP – such as price rise and terrorism simply do not figure among the concerns of the electorate, or even the local leaders and political workers.

If the BJP improves its performance – and people say it may – it would not be because it has managed to sell its plank of Congress incompetence in handling either inflation or national security. Caste equations, rebels, local anti-incumbency, personality and stature of leaders and similar local factors appear to be deciding the preferences of people. With no dominant issues, despite an over-vigilant election commission, candidates and political parties are trying cash incentives to garner votes. There were scenes of money being handed out not-so-discreetly at election offices.

Mandya district with seven assembly seats, adjoining Bangalore, is a predominantly Vokkaliga belt where the percentage of votes polled by the BJP, in its best-ever performance the last time, had not reached double digits. The contest here has traditionally been between the Janata Dal, now Deve Gowda’s JD(S) and the Congress. Fresh delineation leading to changes in constituencies does not seem to have made much difference in politics of the area.

This is no reason for the Congress to cheer yet, though. Its well-known film actor, known among fans as ‘Rebel Ambareesh’ and ‘Mandya-da Gandu’ (the big, great guy of Mandya), contesting from the historical hero Tipu Sultan’s Srirangapatnam has put off people due his preoccupation with ‘larger concerns’ rather than local matters. “He sits in Bangalore. Where would we find our MLA if there some local issue to be sorted out?” was a common refrain in Mandya. The seat was with the JD(S) and its candidate does not face this problem and the BJP’s talk of betrayal by the party matters little.

The story is similar in another town in Mandya associated with films – not because of personalities but because of the place being the site for Sholay’s Ramgarh. Congress, reposing full faith in the power of astrology, has pitted former chief minister RK Hegde’s daughter against Deve Gowda’s son, ex-CM Kumaraswamy.

The celestial stars told the Congress leadership that Deve Gowda’s family would not win against a woman candidate. Kumaraswamy and his men do not seem to bother about what the heavenly bodies are plotting for him.

In Maddur, the BJP looks brighter with Congress rebel Madhu Made Gowda joining it. The Congress denied him ticket to give it to DC Thammana, close to former CM SM Krishna. Interestingly, Thammana’s eldest daughter is married to Deve Gowda’s youngest son and there is talk of sabotage on all sides – except, of course, Thammana’s supporters and family.

s_rajesh@dnaindia.net