Take the case of former deputy chief minister and wannabe chief minister Siddaramaiah of Congress, who is contesting the Assembly election from Varuna constituency of Mysore district. He trekked barefoot to temples, a taboo for diabetics like him, bowing to devout supporters' demands.

Later, of course, he carefully examined his feet, brushed away sand and thorns and wore his socks before having his forty winks in his car enroute to Hoskote for another lap of campaign.

Even the bumpy drive on the Talakkad main road (read mud tracks), reconstructed at huge public cost just over a year ago for the once-in-twelve-years Panchalinga Darshan of Talakka Vaidyeshwara temple, did not disturb his lunch-less siesta.

Chamaraja candidate Vasu has lost several kilos in a month. The reason? He has been gulping everything offered to him - sugared tea/coffee, milk, juice, tender coconut et al - not just to beat the heat and fatigue but also to boost his voter-hosts. The result? His blood sugar is pulling him down.

Star candidate

For actor Ambareesh, the star candidate of Srirangapatna, the Election Commission's bar on banners and posters is proving a big bane. He has to reach out to his fans in the original, sans the makeup, stunts and costume of the tinsel world. The saving grace - there is no EC bar on filmi dialogues.

Congress leader S M Krishna has had to ignore his well known 'allergy' to floral fragrance and accept flower garlands during electioneering.

In 1999, after he returned the Congress to power in the State and was made the chief minister, he was quick to make public his 'allergy' to flowers and issue a polite whip akin to the one found at the bottom of wedding invitations but with a slight difference - "No flowers please, only lemons (as blessings). But that was after getting into the saddle!

Less than six-month-old former CM H D Kumaraswamy, whose replaced heart valve is even less old, is back on his rigorous village night outs which has now got inevitably extended to day-time as well.

Only there is no media, microphone or camera to record his Gandhian style simplicity, which even Gandhi family scion Rahul has copied.

Like octogenarian contestant in Shravanabelagola, H C Srikantaiah, there are scores of 'senior citizens' in the fray because there is no constitutional or EC age bar for contest. While some are braving it all and trudging to conquer votes, for others their benevolent partymen are organising group meetings with local leaders.

Truly, the EC this time has ensured not just a dance, but a Shiva thandava of democracy!