Charity begins at ID centres!

Getting Photo ID cards by suffering long queues under the high sun has now become citizens’ major problem. No wonder, many party workers are seen, eager to solve the voters’ problems by helping them trace their names and serial numbers in the lists outside many ID card distribution centres.

Local BJP and Congress workers at service in a voters ID centre of Sudguntepalya, under BTM Layout constituency, were upset at the plight of the citizens in long queues. They flayed Authorities for installing a single camera for issuing cards to thousands of people.

But, as if to assuage the sufferings of voters, the workers began to distributing buttermilk from a side of the queue. Initially, the identity of the person sponsoring the drink was not clear. Finally, the buttermilk charity was traced to Manjanna of Congress. He said: “Since people are standing in the queue for so long, we arranged it. We are also thinking of providing lunch.”

“Is it only for Congress voters ?”. “No, no,” he said with a smile, “As you know... nobody knows now, as to whom they will vote.”

On or off the record?
Whenever journalists find it difficult to ferret out information they are looking, for or want to get a real picture of the political undercurrents, they normally ask politicians to go “off the record”. And most of the time this trick pays off. Many politicians or bureaucrats, who normally hesitate to air their views in public, readily speak their mind when asked to do so “off the record”.  
 
But Congress Spokesman V S Ugrappa is a hard nut to crack. Whether on or off the record, Ugrappa speaks in same voice. Because unlike other politicians, Ugrappa has a different opinion about the post he is holding. He thinks that as party spokesman, his responsibility is to speak “positive things” about the party and its affairs and not to share with media any  information which is detrimental to party interest. “I am sitting in a highly responsible seat and I cannot play the role of brinkmanship”, Ugrappa remarked when asked to share “off the record” his information regarding infighting in the party over distribution of tickets.

Reddy to strike

Unlike most Congress ticket aspirants, Congress candidate for BTM Layout Assembly constituency in Bangalore City R Ramalinga Reddy, was not nervous on the eve of finalisation of tickets.

This four-time MLA from the Jayanagar Assembly constituency was calm and composed, and confident of getting a ticket for the constituency he had opted. That’s why, like most aspirants, he did not camp at Delhi during the processing of tickets by the Screening Committee as well as Central Election Committee, but stayed back at Bangalore to campaign for himself. “As I was the only ticket seeker for the seat, and mine was the only name recommended by the KPCC Election Committee, there was no need for me to visit Delhi,” Reddy observed.
Moreover, being relieved of the post of City District Congress Committee Presidentship, which he held for nearly 10 years,  has not rattled him in any way. “ I have had a fairly long innings as City DCC President and because of this election, I would not have done justice to the post. Moreover my success does not hinge upon the post,” Reddy opined. So Reddy is ready to strike!

Party loyalty

Loyalty to one’s political party is perhaps a rare quality among present day political leaders of different hues. But Marimuttu, popularly referred to as ‘hooch’ queen, seems to be an exception.

Though Marimuttu, JD(S) ticket aspirant from Pulakeshinagar, has already begun her campaigning, she has no intention of deserting the party if denied a ticket. That’s why she has been seeking votes for the party, and not for herself. She has not put her name and photograph on the pamphlets that she is distributing.
“I am a loyal worker of the party. Even if Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy deny me a ticket, I will continue to work for the party. I will also work for the success of the JD(S) candidate, whoever it is, in the constituency,” she stated.