Jaunts for voters as Nikhil embarks on poll journey

JD(S) sop story

People in the district are being treated to jaunts to religious places as Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil embarks on a political journey, as the coalition candidate.

The all-expenses-paid trip comes with a rider: they have to take an vow before the deities that they will vote for Nikhil.

More than 30 buses are ferrying the people to the temples for the past one week. One JD(S) party worker is deployed for each bus, to facilitate the devotees to have darshan at the popular temples during the two-day tour. The ‘pilgrims’ are provided food, breakfast and also money, sources said.

While a few buses travel to Dharmasthala, Udupi, Kateel, Kukke Subramanya, Horanadu, Kollur, Sringeri, Gokarna, and other places, some buses are taking the passengers to Badami, Aihole, Pattadakallu, Kudalasangama, Almatti, Siganduru, Saundatti and other places. The buses are said to belong to a Bengaluru-based travel company.

As soon as the list of passengers is ready, the buses reach the village by midnight and depart on the wee hours. Videos highlighting the works of Kumaraswamy, songs of Nikhil’s films and short films on the Deve Gowda family are screened.

A few JD(S) workers have started speaking about self-esteem and are showing resistance to the candidate. They are also against family politics. Teams of JD(S) workers has been formed in the booth-level to attract such people. The teams visit the houses of people, speak to women and children and try to convince them to change their minds on supporting the candidate.