Food key to community in Old Mysuru vote-bank politics

BENGALURU: Serving food has long been an extension of Indian hospitality and, in an election year, it appears to have become an extension of Congress, JD(S) and BJP’s efforts to poach vote banks in rural Karnataka.


The three main parties look to win over the votes of communities by hosting groups of voters — divided on the basis of whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian fare will be on the menu — and serving them delicacies of their choice.

Influencing votes gastronomically is common in southern parts of Karnataka, primarily in the districts of Mandya, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura, Kolar and Bengaluru Rural.

One prime example of this approach is ‘baad oota’ (meals with meat) for large groups of people from meat-eating communities such as Vokkaligas, Kurubas, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and minorities. Baad oota is a violation of the model code of conduct but hosting smaller groups in a clandestine manner helps organisers escape notice.

In the six districts, it is believed that the Vokkaliga community’s relations are better with other meateating communities on account of shared food preferences. “However, the same cannot be said of Lingayats, Brahmins and other vegetarian communities, whom they cannot dine with at the same table,” said a BJP party worker from Tumakuru.

“For decades, in the six districts of south Karnataka, the fight has been between Congress and JD(S), with the BJP having no base. This has to do with the fact that the AHINDA vote bank was with the Congress and the Vokkaligas sided with the JD(S). However, this time, Vokkaliga and AHINDA vote banks have merged. Now, there is a clear divide of the primarily meat-eating communities against the vegetarians who will back the BJP,” said another BJP party worker.

Party workers say the distinction does not exist in Bengaluru, coastal Karnataka or in north Karnataka, where food preferences are similar across communities.

Political analyst Mahadev Prakash said voting patterns cannot be analysed on food preferences. “When you look at south Karnataka, the Lingayat and Brahmin population comprises a small percentage of voters. So the fight is primarily based on upper caste versus the oppressed caste,” he said.

Sandeep Shastry, political analyst, said food preferences are primarily caste-based and political outfits offer feasts during an election depends upon the area and the caste of the crowd they serve. “Predominantly political rallies in the past have been caste-based gatherings. Now the gatherings are diverse and because of the diversity, when parties cater to their choice of food, they have to provide variety,” Shastry said.