As
Karnataka goes to poll on May 12 , the voters particularly in the mining belt would have a tough choice to make. Reason: major political parties have fielded scam-tainted candidates in the electoral race.
The mining lobby in Karnataka is known to make or break elections. With the money power they bring to the table, severing ties with them is difficult for political parties.
Both
BJP and
Congress are supporting candidates behind multi-crore mining scam. The BJP has fielded former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, who was indicted in a bribery case and spent three years in jail. Somashekhar Reddy and
Karunakar Reddy, the two of the three Reddy brothers infamous of their involvement in the mining scam are contesting from Bellari city and
Harapanahalli assembly constituencies respectively.
The party has also given ticket to B Sriramulu, the close associate of Janardhana Reddy's (the face of the scandal). He is contesting from two assembly seats,
Badami and Molkalmuru.
While the Congress has accused BJP of fielding scam-tainted candidates, its own candidate, Anil Lad, a mining baron is one of the indicted in the Lokayukta report. The latter was earlier with the BJP, and served as tourism minister with Yeddyurappa government between 2008 and 2013.
HOW MINING BELT OF KARNATAKA VOTED IN THE PAST
In 2008, BJP won in 20 constituencies in the mining belt of Karnataka including Siruggapa, Bellari, Gadag, Hadagalli, Channagiri and Honnali.
ELECTORAL MAP IN 2008
Following detection of illegal mining scandal, the Congress, in 2013, grabbed power winning 18 seats in 2013.
ELECTORAL MAP IN 2013
Of course, the split in the BJP in 2013--with BS Yeddyurappa quitting to set up the Karnataka Janata Paksha and B Sriramulu, the BSR Congress--helped the Congress. 2018 may be different. Both BSY and Sriramulu are now back in the BJP fold. The Congress’s failure in acting against any of the 19 big miners indicted by the Lokayukta and anti-incumbency may work against it.
While the BJP has tried to keep its distance from the scam-tainted mining barons, the fact is that the party has given assembly to family and friends s of tainted former minister G Janardhan Reddy's family. Clearly, there is no denying the fact that it needs their influence to win.
