Politicos have a free run, give away freebies in B'luru, elsewhere

Leaders aspiring to contest the polls have started doling out freebies such as sarees, hotboxes and even ISI-mark helmets to woo voters.

While sarees are easy inducements to attract women voters, laptops, wrist watches and helmets are among the top choices for contestants to catch young voters.

Senior BJP leader Aravind Limbavali reportedly distributed ISI-mark helmets with a sticker of Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Yeddyurappa and himself at Mahadevapura constituency in the city on Thursday.

Byrathi Suresh, Congress MLC and ticket aspirant from Hebbal constituency in the city is learnt to have distributed free mixer grinders in slums and in areas populated by economically weaker sections.

Sitting BJP MLA of the same constituency Y A Narayanaswamy was seen distributing hotboxes and separate dustbins to segregate wet and dry waste to residents. The dustbins even had his name printed on them.

Some of these leaders had started distributing freebies before the announcement of election dates. BJP MLA Sathish Reddy of Bommanahalli constituency handed out a box of goodies in his area a week ago.

Similarly, Congress MLA Priyakrishna from Govindarajanagar Constituency had distributed helmets.

BBMP officials who are close to the politicians also distributed free laptops. Uma, BBMP assistant revenue officer of Sarvagna Nagar constituency, distributed free laptops to students earlier this week after the code of conduct had set in. When questioned, she said that she did not know about the poll code.

Congress MLA P M Ashok from Ramdurga (Belagavi) and Lakshmi Hebbalkar, president of Karnataka Congress women's wing and an aspirant from Belagavi Rural constituency, also distributed sarees.

Ashok gave out wrist watches with his name printed on it. This apart, non-vegetarian feasts (badoota) was organised for voters at many places.

Meanwhile, the election authorities have booked several cases for violation of the model code of conduct. Devarahippargi legislator A S Patil (Nadahalli) was booked by chief electoral officer Sanjiv Kumar for distributing sarees.