It is now official that elections to the State Legislative Assembly will be held in the month of May. All political parties without exception are in stiff competition to display their ‘power’, which is undoubtedly in terms of money.
There were times when the people of the undivided Kolar district would support leaders with character. Now the times have changed and it is money that rules the game.

In the last elections N N Krishnaiah Shetty spent money like water in Malur constituency and emerged victorious. The same technique is now adopted by Varthur Prakash in Kolar constituency.

Since last one year he has been trying to woo people with money power. And quite interestingly people have been positively responding to it. Hence, it is impossible to imagine elections without money in all the eleven constituencies of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.

Bangalore land mafia

Money originating from the Bangalore land mafia is now flowing towards these districts. In Bagepalli constituency D G Nagaraj Reddy of JD(S), Manjunath Reddy of Congress and Sai Kumar of BJP are all set with money bags in their hands. However, this constituency is a stronghold of Communist party and Srirama Reddy of the party has now to contest with the people with money power.

In Gowribidanur it is interesting to note that three candidates belonging to the same family are in the fray. N S Shankar (Congress), Ravi Narayana Reddy (BJP) and Jyothi Reddy (JDS) - all three of them are from the same family. Apart from this Ashok, with tremendous money power and support from R L Jalappa, is trying for Congress ticket and even Komul former president Ramesh is lobbying for a ticket.

It is a paradox that all the candidates in the fray in Chikkaballapur constituency are the disciples of former virtuous legislator K B Pillappa. They are all set with money to woo the voters.

In Shidlaghatta battle for tickets is getting tough. This time Muniswamappa has joined Congress and it is interesting to watch who will get the party ticket. Similar confusion is prevailing in BJP and JD(S) too.

In the prestigious Kolar constituency it is certain that former legislator K Srinivas Gowda is getting Congress ticket.

Varthur to contest

However, Varthur Prakash is also eyeing for the ticket and if he does not get it, he will contest as an independent candidate, say sources. And with that the districts of Kolar and Chikkaballapur are going to witness money flowing in all the nooks and corners of the eleven constituencies.