How much do star campaigners eat? If the Election Commission makes this data public, the political career of many star campaigners will surely sink. This is what people from different parties in Karnataka are talking about. Typically, a star campaigner’s food expenses are not included in a candidate’s budget, and bills are generated in the star campaigner’s name. So, when party leaders eat at the same hotels as the star campaigners, their bills are added to the star campaigner’s tab. This can lead to massive bills, with one star campaigner reportedly spending close to Rs 1 lakh a day on food alone. With around 40 star campaigners fielded by major parties in Karnataka, how much will the total bill be? Party workers are also trying to figure it out.
Chhattisgarh to Karnataka
Lord Hanuman has become an electoral issue in the Karnataka election. Congress is also playing its part. Its members are saying that Lord Ram’s maternal grandmother’s place is in Chhattisgarh and Hanuman is Ram’s biggest devotee. Hence, it would have made perfect sense for the Congress to raise this point earlier. Now, the party is going to talk about Hanuman from Chhattisgarh to Karnataka. A general secretary told his fellow Congress member, “Let us both become Hanuman.” In response, the party member said, “Brother, who all are our Rams? We have so many idols here. Since we are bowing at so many temples, it’s important we decide on our Ram before becoming Hanuman.”
Let it burn
Some highly trusted sources sitting with BJP’s central leaders were gushing about BS Yediyurappa, Karnataka’s former chief minister. A little birdie chirped that a central minister with not-so-friendly relations with Yediyurappa joined the conversation. But the supporters didn’t let that dampen their spirits and kept praising BSY, going so far as to exaggerate his achievements. Seems like they are trying to irk the unfriendly minister — why else would they poke the bear?
PM is impressed
Kanthi Shetty, the spokesperson of Karnataka BJP, has become the talk of the town after her rendezvous with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When asked about local media trends, she smartly responded with “Masla” (problems). Looks like her wit and charm won the PM’s heart, as her social media picture with Modi is now a hit with over a lakh likes. It seems like the local leaders are now singing her praises.
The nervous CM
PM Modi asked Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, “What is going to happen? This is a big challenge for you.” Reportedly, this made Bommai nervous. He replied, “Sir, I am trying my best.”
Cutting loses
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hoped to eat into the votes of the BJP and the Congress in the Karnataka elections. But even before it could come up with a strategy, Uttama Prajakeeya Party became a challenge for it. The party’s youth wing started making viral videos on AAP candidates’ misdeeds and financial power. Their supporters are commenting on the videos in Kannada telling the AAP to stay in its lane and that they are the sons of the soil in the state. Now for the AAP, saving the one per cent vote it won last time is a big achievement in itself.
Exit plan
Mayawati is in Uttar Pradesh while her party is in Karnataka’s election battleground. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has distributed tickets for 137 seats in the state so far. Last time, in collaboration with Janata Dal (Secular), the party saw victory on one seat. And the candidate who won, later joined the BJP. Even this time, many BSP candidates think of the BJP and Congress as their original parties and are saying that if they win, their homecoming is confirmed. It’s important for these candidates to fight the state assembly election because their original party did not give them tickets and the BSP did.
Bharat Agrawal is Executive Director, Dainik Bhaskar Group, and a columnist.
By special arrangement with Dainik Bhaskar, edited by Ratan Priya.