The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : No run-of-the-mill campaign

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Monday, Apr 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

No run-of-the-mill campaign

Nagesh Prabhu

Mahima Patel

BANGALORE: Mahima Patel, president of the Swarna Yuga Party, is in an altogether different campaign mode. Instead of campaigning for support to his party’s candidates, Mr. Patel has decided to adopt Gandhian methods and go on a month-long fast from the day of filing his nomination papers on April 28.

“I will go on fast during the entire period of electioneering. The fast is for the purification and transformation of society,” he said.

The son of the former Chief Minister, the late J.H. Patel, observed a month-long fast at Koodala Sangama when he had serious differences with the family of the former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda during the Janata Dal (S)-BJP coalition rule a year ago.

Mr. Patel, who would be contesting from the Channagiri constituency, would continue his fast till the date of declaration of poll results (May 25).

He will take only water, honey, lemon juice and tender coconut. The former MLA will launch his fast at the Siddeshwara temple on the banks of a tank in Channagiri taluk and will stay at the temple.

Mr. Patel, an engineering graduate, has appealed to his party supporters to join him in the fast.

“If there is an invitation for eco-friendly programmes such as planting of saplings, I will participate. Otherwise, I will not go. My party candidates have to do the canvassing on their own,” he said. “Instead of celebrating elections like festivals, parties and candidates are up in arms against one another. The voters are passive. We should become a model for others,” he said.

Candidates spend too much money to lure voters, he regretted. “You (voters) should give us both votes and notes (currency)… I will go to the people with a bowl seeking funds. It is a wonderful experiment for me and also my party. I call upon leaders of all political parties to participate in the programme” he said.

The leaders of other political parties are busy preparing election manifestoes and planning campaigns. But Mr. Patel’s party has no poll manifesto.

“We will not have to reveal a political manifesto. The voters should realise who is the best candidate in the constituencies. I will not embark on door-to-door campaigning like candidates of other parties,” he said.

Mr. Patel, who contested the 2004 elections on a Janata Dal (S) ticket, won the Channagiri seat defeating Vadnal Rajanna of the Congress.

Mr. Patel secured 42,837 votes while Mr. Rajanna bagged 32,154 votes.

K. M. Veerupaksha of the BJP stood third, secured 24,105 votes.

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