The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : A simply innovative strategy

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Wednesday, Mar 25, 2009
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

A simply innovative strategy

Special Correspondent

BANGALORE: The Election Commission may be keeping a hawk’s eye on poll-eve freebies, but politicians in the country’s tech capital seem to be striving to fly low under the radar in an attempt to woo the electorate with sweeteners.

Here is an example of an innovative way “framed” by The Hindu’s photographer K. Murali Kumar on Tuesday at Banashankari II Stage in Bangalore.

The sequence of events is as follows: A BJP worker, A. H. Basavaraju, holds his 42nd birthday celebrations at a big choultry near the BMTC bus stop (Monotype bus stop). Interestingly, the cut-outs erected nearby are those of BJP leaders L.K. Advani, B.S. Yeddyurappa and H.N. Ananth Kumar along with a life-sized one of Mr. Basavaraju himself.

A large number of people, including those from the lower strata of society, are present on the choultry premises, and refreshments are served to them.

Our photographer, on being tipped off that BJP general secretary Ananth Kumar, who is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore South, will visit the choultry, rushes there hoping for an election-related picture.

Mr. Ananth Kumar arrives and addresses the gathering. However, Mr. Murali Kumar spots a queue in front of the choultry and curious to know what it is about, edges towards it.

He then realises that much more than snacks is being doled out: volunteers are distributing Vodafone SIM cards in return for photocopies of their Elector’s Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

He clicks several frames and beats a hasty retreat upon being noticed by the organisers.

Now comes the tricky question: Is this a violation of the model code of conduct?

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