If there was a mascot for the election in Karnataka, it was the electronic voting machine. This gizmo featured in the election speeches of many politicians. For example: Ananth Kumar: Remember the button that you press will turn on the power in Delhi. Jaffer Sharief: Inform your womenfolk they must press the button on two machines, one of which must be for me. The EVM also inspired some parties like the JD-U combine to come up with a simple, novel method of campaigning. They made prototypes of the machines, with only the names of their candidates displayed prominently, and the green light signifying a vote in his favour glowing. First, they used these models for intensive door-to-door campaigning in the lower middle class localities of Bangalore. On polling day, some of them displayed the prototypes in their booths, ostensibly to educate the uninformed, in blatant violation of EC codes, which prohibit campaigning within a certain distance of the polling stations. The politicians may have been happy to have seen the last of him. But the electorate certainly missed the unseen presence of T N Seshan at the assembly and Parliament polls in Karnataka this time. The absence of the strict vigilance maintained by the Election Commission in Karnataka in 1994 was felt deeply by the people. By clamping down strictly on expenditure, noise pollution and despoiling of walls, Seshan finally made it necessary for politicians to directly approach their voters at their doorsteps. It was gratifying to see voters making the most of this opportunity, and posing uncomfortable questions to candidates who came to them. This time, most politicians used the excuse they had no time to campaign, because Karnataka was the first state to go to the polls, and simply made speeches at public meetings or went on processions and padayatras through their constituencies. Few spoke to voters, one on one, unlike the last time. BJP MLA Suresh Kumar, who contests from one of the five constituencies yet to go to polls, is probably the only candidate to be doing intensive door-to-door campaigning. But then, the man is known for his integrity and dynamism, so he is not afraid to meet his voters face to face. Trailing politicians can be an interesting exercise in human dynamics, as their campaigning styles and approaches to the voters are so different. You have the weepers like Deve Gowda and Congressman B Janardhana Poojary, who seldom bypass an opportunity to shed a few tears in public. The plight of village women walking miles to the nearest wells usually reminds them of their mothers, and reduces them to a very public display of sorrow. Then, there are the huggers and touchers, like Jeevraj Alva, who always try to reach out and touch voters and party workers with their warmth and affability: they shake hands, scatter hugs as they walk past, whisper in ears and rely on that special warm glance to reach out to women, as they cannot touch them physically. You also have regal politicians like S M Krishna and Jaffer Sharief, who maintain a dignified air of aloofness and watch with an air of amused nonchalance while supporters extol their worth. Sometimes, the accompanying media gets drawn unwillingly into the role of campaigner. Five years ago, for example, when this journalist was trailing Deve Gowda around his then constituency of Kanakapura, Deve Gowda would alight from his car first, and say to the waiting reception committee of villagers, "Because I am contesting from your constituency, the whole nation is looking at you. See, the national media has come to your small hamlet!" From then on, he would insist on talking to me only in English, until we got back into his car, when he would switch comfortably into Kannada again! Electioneering in Karnataka might have been singularly devoid of star campaigners this time, barring, of course, Sonia Gandhi and the brief appearances of Priyanka. But a large number of politicians of Karnataka origin are in the midst of exciting electoral battles elsewhere in the country. The most high profile is probably former journalist Louise Fernandes, daughter of distinguished and high profile retired IAS officer Praxy Fernandes of Bangalore, and sister of business tycoon Ashok Fernandes, whose chain of photography shops Fotoflash is doing extremely well. Then, there is Nina Balsaver, who is also originally from this state. Apart from Deve Gowda, who shot Karnataka into the national limelight with his foibles and follies as prime minister, other star politicians who have shone brightly on the firmament of national politics are Margaret Alva and George Fernandes. And, of course, one could never forget the rosy complexioned Jayalalitha, the lady who was directly responsible for an election being held now, and who tries to avoid discussing her childhood in Mysore town. Now that the election is over in all barring five assembly constituencies, most Karnataka politicians are busy unwinding after the past stress-filled month. Union minister Ananth Kumar, ever the family man, made the most of the long holiday weekend including Ganesh Chaturthi, and went off on a three day pilgrimage with software engineer wife Tejaswini and their two young daughters Aishwarya and Vijetha. Colourful Congressman Sarekoppa Bangarappa, who lamented that he was hoarse with all the speech-making and shouting, happily got back to his badminton. State Congress chief S M Krishna declared his intention of setting off to Goa with his family for a much needed break. Only Deve Gowda decided to live up to his image of being a workaholic and left on an extended campaign tour of the North the day after polling in his home constituency of Hassan. M D Riti is taking a break from the hurly-burly of the campaign trail.
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