Karnataka poll diary: Yeddyurappa has oath ceremony date, plans ready

The votes are yet to be cast, counted and the winners declared. Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 and results will be declared on May 15 for the 224-member assembly. Politicians however are never short of confidence. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Chief Ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa is so confident of a win, that he even declared when he plans to take oath as the 23rd Chief Minister of the state, only to recant the very next day.

No, it was not sudden modesty or any kind of apprehension on the likely outcome of polls that prompted this. Yeddyurappa, who had initially said he would probably take oath on 18 or 19th May, said that he is likely to do so on 17th May because 18th and 19th were declared to be not so ‘asupicious.’ He even declared the number of people (about 3-4 lakh) who would assemble for the ceremony. Will the voters of Karnataka oblige Yeddyurappa’s soothsaying or will Siddaramiah have the last laugh?

What is in a symbol

While the candidates of major registered parties can contest on the reserved symbol (say Hand for Congress or Lotus for BJP), independent candidates have a tougher task. Unlike in the past when animals and other easily recognizable symbols were available, the Election Commission now releases a carefully curated list of them, for independents to choose from. This election season, candidates could choose among cup & saucer, sword, biscuit, a saw, nail cutter and a pair of pliers.

Some of the symbols which used to be allotted earlier like fan or a coconut tree have fallen out of favour. This is because at or near the voting station, there cannot be visual representation of a particular candidate. This had lead to extreme situations of fans being covered or dismantled in a polling booth (not a good choice in the sweltering summer) or demands by some candidates that coconut trees near a booth be covered so as not to confer an advantage to an opponent.

One attention seeking actor who calls himself a ‘firing star’ Huccha (literally, mad) Venkat, who is contesting from Raja Rajeshwari Nagar constituency as an independent, has chosen a pair of sandals as his election symbol. To each his own.

A divine promise

You have heard of politicians enriching voters with food, liquor, money even appliances. But one contestant in Karnataka is being accused of using visitation to divine abode to win elections. C S Puttaraju, the Janata Dal (Secular) candidate for the Melukote constituency is being accused of offering voters a round trip to have a darshan of Tirupati Balaji. Voters not only get a free ride on specially arranged buses, but also free accommodation and food. The catch, according to his opponents, is that people who avail this are asked to swear in the name of Lord Venkateshwara that they will vote for him.

While some villagers claim to have gone on the trip, the party and candidate say they are doing no such thing. Results day will indicate who has the true blessings of the lord.