Karnataka set for polls with door-to-door campaigning

Thanks to the hawk eyed vigil by poll observers, this time elections have turned out to be noise pollution free, giving a breather to people as there are no vehicles fitted with blaring haranguers roaming the strees of political parties or its candidates.

With candidates unable to cash on their traditional campaigning tools, many have resorted to literally `walk their talk’ by hitting the hot dusty streets this summer.

Down the little bylanes, down the little street corners and stopping by the tiny local teashops, the candidates with their little groups were engaged in a one-to-one meeting with their electors, convincing them that the taps running dry or the neglected potholes would be filled up once the candidate was voted to power.

It was reality showtime for candidates as they interacted personally with voters and heard their woes and listed their requirements, all while trying to gauge the pulse of their constituency, modifying their campaigning based on personal feedback during these walking campaigns.

While many of the party candidates have taken to the local tours of their constituency as part of their election trail, the BJP has hit upon a novel idea of staging street plays to drive home their party manifesto and propaganda.

The spoofs take a dig at their rivals the JDS. The plays scripted by the party through humour takes some potshots of the `betrayal’ of the JDS. Another play highlights the woe of spiralling prices.

The party has roped in a local drama troupe to stage these plays and add that professional touch to their campaign.

Even as the state misses out on the usual poll spice–buntings, posters and cutouts–voters are being treated to a new reality show as they have a first hand glimpse of the candidates and contemplate on the TRP ratings they should grant each one, depending on the impact they have had.

With the first phase of polling just 10 days away from now, Congress and BJP which have been bidding for power have promised several freebies to attract voters, particularly the poor and farmers.

BJP has promised to give free power to farmers for irrigation pump sets upto 10 horse power, Rice at Rs two per kg to poor, while Congress, besides assuring rice distribtution at the same price, has come up with a novel gift of free colour tv.

Samajwadi party, though not a major player in the hustling, has offered to give ten kgs of free rice, free power to farmers besides land allotment to landless agricultural labourers.

JDS, claiming itself as the party of farmers is yet to unveil its manifesto.