<p>Candidates of major political parties are bandying about the name of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to woo voters in the Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While the saffron party’s G S Basavaraju mouths platitudes about the Gujarat chief minister and his achievements, Congress’ S P Muddahanume Gowda goes around telling people not to vote the “divisive” BJP to power. <br /><br />“I believe the Modi model of administration is the answer to our problems in the constituency,” says Basavaraju who apparently has little knowledge about what Modi has done in his state.<br /><br />Setting a hard target for himself of touring 3,800-odd villages in the constituency, Basavaraju has been harping on Modi to seek votes. A sitting MP and a Lingayat leader handpicked by his mentor B S Yeddyurappa, he is trying to “rebuild” the BJP’s image in Tumkur “from the scratch.” <br /><br />In his own words, he has a “daunting task on hand to project an undivided BJP, which was split into two after Yeddyurappa formed his Karnataka Janata Party.” Yeddyurappa, though, is back in the BJP.<br /><br />In the Madhugiri Assembly constituency, where the BJP does not have a strong presence, Basavaraju is said to be getting little response from the party workers. After visiting a temple near Hindupur and making offerings, he proceeds to Madhugiri, halting briefly at places to meet people and discuss ways to ensure the victory of BJP in the coming election. <br /><br />Taking advantage<br /><br />“I am presently happy with the party workers’ initiatives in the constituency. While both the Congress and the JD(S) candidates are outsiders, I know the people in the constituency,” he reassures himself. At the other end, Muddahanume Gowda, who got a ticket thanks to KPCC president G Parameshwara, has decided to take advantage of Modi’s unpopularity among the minorities.<br /><br />In the Tumkur Assembly constituency, with Congress’ sitting MLA Rafiq Ahmed by his side, Gowda approaches Muslims seeking votes, soon after their afternoon prayers. <br /><br />“If you want to save the country from Modi, please vote for Congress. Do not waste a single precious vote on any other party. It will divide us, Muslims. Save the country from the murderer and evil Modi,” Congress supporters from the minority community tell their brethren.<br /><br />According to Gowda, Modi is a non-entity when it comes to seeking votes from the rural population in the constituency. “I cannot say that in the urban pockets Modi is not a factor. But with almost 3,000 plus villages in the rural belt, the Modi factor will be nullified,” he says.<br /><br />While both the candidates believe that their candidature is best suited for the constituency, based on their merit, Modi’s name, however, will be the premise for their campaign.</p>
<p>Candidates of major political parties are bandying about the name of BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to woo voters in the Tumkur Lok Sabha constituency.<br /><br /></p>.<p>While the saffron party’s G S Basavaraju mouths platitudes about the Gujarat chief minister and his achievements, Congress’ S P Muddahanume Gowda goes around telling people not to vote the “divisive” BJP to power. <br /><br />“I believe the Modi model of administration is the answer to our problems in the constituency,” says Basavaraju who apparently has little knowledge about what Modi has done in his state.<br /><br />Setting a hard target for himself of touring 3,800-odd villages in the constituency, Basavaraju has been harping on Modi to seek votes. A sitting MP and a Lingayat leader handpicked by his mentor B S Yeddyurappa, he is trying to “rebuild” the BJP’s image in Tumkur “from the scratch.” <br /><br />In his own words, he has a “daunting task on hand to project an undivided BJP, which was split into two after Yeddyurappa formed his Karnataka Janata Party.” Yeddyurappa, though, is back in the BJP.<br /><br />In the Madhugiri Assembly constituency, where the BJP does not have a strong presence, Basavaraju is said to be getting little response from the party workers. After visiting a temple near Hindupur and making offerings, he proceeds to Madhugiri, halting briefly at places to meet people and discuss ways to ensure the victory of BJP in the coming election. <br /><br />Taking advantage<br /><br />“I am presently happy with the party workers’ initiatives in the constituency. While both the Congress and the JD(S) candidates are outsiders, I know the people in the constituency,” he reassures himself. At the other end, Muddahanume Gowda, who got a ticket thanks to KPCC president G Parameshwara, has decided to take advantage of Modi’s unpopularity among the minorities.<br /><br />In the Tumkur Assembly constituency, with Congress’ sitting MLA Rafiq Ahmed by his side, Gowda approaches Muslims seeking votes, soon after their afternoon prayers. <br /><br />“If you want to save the country from Modi, please vote for Congress. Do not waste a single precious vote on any other party. It will divide us, Muslims. Save the country from the murderer and evil Modi,” Congress supporters from the minority community tell their brethren.<br /><br />According to Gowda, Modi is a non-entity when it comes to seeking votes from the rural population in the constituency. “I cannot say that in the urban pockets Modi is not a factor. But with almost 3,000 plus villages in the rural belt, the Modi factor will be nullified,” he says.<br /><br />While both the candidates believe that their candidature is best suited for the constituency, based on their merit, Modi’s name, however, will be the premise for their campaign.</p>
