Bypolls: Last-minute efforts to woo voters

As public campaigning for bypolls to Nanjangud (reserved) and Gundlupet Assembly constituencies came to a close at 5 pm on Friday, supporters of candidates and their respective party workers took to door-to-door canvassing for their candidates on Saturday.

The canvassing gave local leaders and workers a chance to do their bit for their candidates as until Friday, campaigning had been hijacked by state-level leaders of both national parties.

For almost a fortnight now, state leaders have been camping in the district to campaign for their respective candidates as the two constituencies have become the political hotspots in the state.

Even though most of them were staying in swanky hotels in Mysuru and shuttling between the towns, they were available in the Assembly segments whenever their presence was required during early mornings. They had brought their own entourage and teams of professionals to assist them. In fact, a former minister got hundreds of likes for his photos showing him in a cowshed in a village.

Even though thousands of people gathered for the public meetings and rallies of leaders of both the parties, voters were largely tight-lipped on their choice.

Sympathy is a common thread binding all the four prominent candidates in both the constituencies. While one candidate was complaining of betrayal by his leader, the other was projecting his defeat in the last election and his financial crisis. In the neighbouring constituency, one candidate is a bereaved person while the other is recalling four defeats in his family.

Both parties are accusing each other of trying to lure voters with liquor and cash but sources claim that parties have smuggled both into the constituencies. Sources say liquor and cash made inroads into the district with great difficulty as Election Commission officials had been very watchful to check any violation of model code of conduct.

Politicians are expected to distribute liquor and cash to voters of economically weaker sections during night time and early morning. These voters are the deciding factors in the polls as people from higher income groups and also middle class go to polling booths depending on their convenience. However, people of the lower strata make it a point to cast their vote at any ‘cost’.