The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Those elected have not bothered to look at us’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Apr 14, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Those elected have not bothered to look at us’

Raghava M.

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Seeking votes: BJP candidate for Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency P.C. Mohan campaigning on Monday.

BANGALORE: The views of an elderly vegetable seller S. Shantamma reflected the mood of the electorate in Challaghatta, a village about three km from the HAL Airport Road. “They (candidates) come and go. They do not speak anything on the problems we are facing. Those who have been elected have not bothered to look at us,” she said without giving much attention to the sound of drums and announcements of an impending roadshow by Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Bangalore Central P.C. Mohan on Monday.

The election campaign in Challaghatta, a village with problems such as acute drinking water supply and poor roads, is bereft of excitement. People are upset that their day-to-day problems are yet to be addressed. “We do not get Cauvery water here. We solely rely on borewell,” said Sangamesh, who is one of the drivers of water tankers that supplies water to nearby hospitals and apartments. There are a number of houses in Challaghatta and surrounding areas from where water is pumped into tankers.

“Our road has remained bumpy for several years,” said C. Chandrashekar, a shopkeeper. He is not enamoured about the campaign by the BJP, which is the first to be held by a party in the area. “Our problems have remained the same. Those who have won from here have not bothered to look at us. We see their faces only in the newspapers,” he said.

Not many people gathered at the Sri Rama Temple circle in Challaghatta to welcome Mr. Mohan. “We were informed about the road show at the last minute. It’s difficult to gather people,” said a local BJP worker. This village is a part of Mahadevapura Assembly constituency from where Higher Education Minister Arvind Limbavali has got elected.

The BJP road show enters the village at 11 a.m., which is two hours behind schedule. Mr. Mohan comes in a multi-utility vehicle and is accompanied by the former Minister Ashwathnarayana Reddy. Mr. Mohan and Mr. Reddy make brief speeches at the circle before moving ahead. “This is one of the 50 villages in Mahadevapura that I have to cover today. I get down from the vehicle only where there is a large gathering,” he told The Hindu while moving to Belur Nagasandra.

Mr. Mohan appeared confident of winning from Bangalore Central.

“We have been able to give better roads, which the people here have not seen before. We will get more votes than what we got in 2008 Assembly elections.”

Admitting that the security of women was one of the issues that he was being questioned, Mr. Mohan said: “I have promised better handling of such issues.”

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka