Prison polls: When the "worst" man wins

"There were no incidents of booth capturing, rigging, distribution of illicit liquor or any such activities," remarked DG of police, prisons, H T Sangliana, half-joking, half-serious.

These elections are held every six months. But the elections are announced only on the D-day, sometimes just a few hours before polling. Each candidate is allowed to make a speech just before the polling.

One of the candidates, Mahesh Kumar, who is serving a sentence for setting his wife on fire, made a speech like any other politician. He won handsdown but prisoners say it has nothing to do with the speech: his popularity is attributed to the fact that he unfailingly rushes to the help of other inmates. That apparently got him the maximum votes: 754 out of a little over 1500. Incidentally, Mahesh Kumar completed his B A degree while serving the term.

H P Ravichandra, also serving a life sentence for murder, came second with 547 votes. Asif alias Kalu, who is serving a life sentence, got 510 votes while Shivanna, described by the superintendent of Prisons B S Abbai as the most trusted prisoner, got 447 votes. Shivanna is in jail for murdering his wife. C Chandrashekhar, accused of burning his wife to death, stood fifth with 159 votes while 40-year-old Ramappa, who had killed a person during the 1991 riots, stood fifth with 151 votes.

Among the 67 women prisoners, shy and silent Vanaja Reddy came first, closely followed by one Geetha. Vanaja faces charges of killing her husband, an Armyman. Geetha has been accused of killing her mother-in-law withthe help of her husband.