BENGALURU: Campaign managers of major candidates in
Rajarajeshwarinagar assembly constituency, going to the polls on Monday, are in a fix. As
polling was put off a day before the scheduled May 12, voters had got freebies from candidates and their campaign managers. Voters are now demanding they be given freebies again in return for their votes, sources privy to campaign managers said.
Distributing freebies, including cash and other goodies, for the second time in less than a month has turned out to be a daunting prospect, sources admitted. Besides the financial implications, there is also the logistics of not drawing the authorities’ attention, they said.
A worker of a national party, on condition of anonymity, said it’s an open secret that freebies and cash distribution to voters happens and all parties do it. “Usually it happens a day before polling day. In
RR Nagar, we’re in a fix. Within a month, goodies have to be distributed again,” he added.
An activist of another party confirmed there is pressure on them to dole out freebies again. “Even foot soldiers of our party are demanding more money as they are carrying on the campaign for an extended period,” he added.
The demand for freebies is evident in the seizure of such material by EC squads in the past two weeks. Police have already initiated seven cases of model code of conduct violation and seized items such as pressure cookers. Lakshmeesh, an official monitoring violations of the code, said two days ago, police seized Rs 3 lakh cash at Mallathahalli and it’s being probed.
Public holiday
All private and government schools and colleges, industries and establishments in the constituency will remain closed on Monday to encourage people to cast their vote.
