Ever heard of a fashion show that seeks to educate the electorate on poll evils? Bangalore hosted one on Wednesday, however despite the noble intentions the event ended up being hijacked by two Independent candidates from Bangalore to publicise their own agendas and poll promises.
Ironically, the fashion show had been organised by the funds donated to the candidates by their spiritual guru Jagannatha Swamiji, who also released his 21-point manifesto for creating Gandhiji’s Rama Rajya, at the venue. The event’s invitation was even more confusing, with a tag line that read: “models to scorch the ramp to beat poll heat”.
A small stage, which looked nothing like a fashion ramp, had six young models walking criss-cross with placards bearing images of “poll evils”. The themes on the placards included corruption, money power and supply of liquor among others. But minutes into their show, two independent candidates R. Nagaraja (contesting from Chickpet) and Harish (contesting from Hebbal) joined them on the ramp.
When asked what the models had to do with the stated purpose of the event, the candidates had no answers. Evidently, the public relations exercise didn’t quite turn out along imagined lines.
Later, Mr. Jagannatha said that he donated Rs. 5 lakh to each of the candidates to contest the elections. “I raised the money through my devotees.”
Meanwhile, replying to queries my the media, a spokesperson for the event said that there was no vulgarity involved in the fashion show, as models wore saris and carried placards to depict poll evils.
