In spite of being so crucial, this election is colourless and the mood lackadaisical. There are no major - or even minor- issues, no personalities in any of the parties, and no ideology at all.
All the talk of the North Karnataka resentment, of the Bangalore versus the rest of Karnataka and the rural-urban divide cannot change this fact. What there is, is a simmering resentment among the people since the last government.
And while the JD (S) and the BJP charged each other with being betrayers, it was the people who were really betrayed, not only by these two parties but by the Congress as well.
Unusually the campaigns are very low key, as if the parties know they have lost face. There is cynicism among most people, but there is a small hope that this is linked to a determination to vote and do something about it. The main hope among the voters this time is of a single party getting a simple majority. That there should not be any totally unethical cobbling together of parties like we saw the last time.
Hopefully the parties realise this, but when they see power within their grasp, when they see it just a whisker away, who knows what they will do? In any case, this election will perhaps give us a clue to whether the politicians can and are willing to read the mood of the people or whether they still think they can get away with anything.
(Shashi Deshpande is a noted novelist.)
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Whether BJP/Cong it z not going to make any diff to bengaluru/KA.That money power and caste dominated the outcome z an open secret... real issues to be sorted out r kasturi kannada being sidelined by Hindi... kannadigas being sidelined by Hindi settlers...no true politician from either parties will resolve these pressing problems... will bengaluru continue to be in KA? belgaum z abt to go to MH!But we ppl r sitting and waiting for next govt..we need another Rajkumar for us... ...Reply
Is it going to make a difference? being colorful or not? Ultimately we the people even after voting is not getting anything..They again have to go with bad roads, bad infrastructure, poor public transport system, poor traffic management, poor safety conditions....the list goes on and on..... ...Reply
We got alone well under the Presidents' rule anyway. ...Reply
We can make it colourful..Count yourself!! Do VOTE ...Reply
Well I guess the elections do not seem so colourful or loud 1. due to ECs rule against excessive banners and high decibel chanting...2. people of Karnataka realise their Governments future (at least for this term). The results will be announced, predictable will happen. Any single party will not possess the majority to form a stable government. Why be so cheerful when there is so much hope for a coalition government that will fall anyway? ...Reply
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