With only a day left for the gram panchayat polls, the contestants are busy in last-minute efforts on wooing voters in villages of Hassan district. Money and liquor appear to be playing a very significant role in such efforts of the contestants on luring the electorate.
When this reporter visited a few villages in Hassan, Belur and Arsikere taluks on Wednesday, the people were engaged in serious discussion over the gram panchayat elections at roadside hotels, eateries and even gram panchayat office premises. They were trying to speculate the poll outcome, considering the candidate’s caste, image of his/her family in the village and the financial status.
“Money is an important factor. At present, candidates are assuring Rs. 100 a voter. In some cases, it may go up to Rs. 500, depending on the voter’s demand. The money will be distributed during the night before the election,” said a person at Salagame, a village in Hassan taluk. Liquor parties and feasts have been arranged in the last few days.
In many villages, the fight is between relatives. In such cases, the candidates find the task of wooing the voters a little tough. “Nobody gives money or liquor in the open. Candidates and their supporters go around the village in the evening hours and meet the voters,” said Ramappa at Nittur in Hassan taluk.
So far, there are no reports of complaints of contestants resorting to illegal means to woo the voters.
