Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka: High-voltage star war unfolds in sugar bowl

MANDYA: By all appearances, Mandya could shred the script of

caste-based politics

, weaving a stirring tale of community.


It’s a face-off that echoes strains of Sandalwood: the 31-year-old scion of the Gowda clan, Nikhil Kumaraswamy, up against another debutante, cine star 55-year-old Sumalatha Ambareesh, who has taken the baton from her late husband, a much-loved son of the soil. The Vokkaliga Rajkumara (prince) versus the Oora sose (daughter-inlaw of the district).

People flooded the streets in Pandavapura, a panchayat town in a rousing show of support for Sumalatha, who rode atop a four-wheel drive last week. Flags of BJP, Congress and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha dotted her campaign. Vehicles stopped as crackers lit up the thoroughfare. “Gellisthivi (we’ll make her win),” was the refrain.

The optics weren’t different for actor-turnedpolitician Nikhil, who started his day by offering prayers at a Malavalli temple. In pristine whites, linen shirt and dhoti, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son oozed confidence. “I have our MLAs, our party people working for me,” he said. “If Congress flags are flying elsewhere, that’s for their party leaders to look into. We’ve never had media support, but we know that people stand with us and I want to serve them. I’ll work closely with the villages in this area, make people’s lives better.”

Nikhil, on a ragi-mudde diet, declined the offer of a cap for protection against the blazing sun, saying, “Navella raithra maklu” (We’re farmer’s children). He added, “I’ve been part of election campaigns. This is different because it’s mine, I’m responsible for it,” he said, calling his trek across eight taluks of the constituency a spontaneous exercise. “I go with the flow. I don’t necessarily speak to my parents every day. My father has a lot of things to take care of.”

With emotions running high, disgruntlement in HD Deve Gowda’s family is obvious. Dr HN Ravindra, a Congressman who walked 43km through villages in the district, said the JD(S) decision to field an “outsider” in Mandya has hurt people. “Wasn’t anyone from Mandya good enough?” he asked, adding that the district had elected seven MLAs in the assembly elections.

S Sachidanand, expelled from the Congress, added, “This is not a Vokkaliga Sangha election, but a parliamentary election. Choosing Nikhil has hurt Mandya’s pride. People here are quick to love, but not stupid’. Don’t forget it’s the district which defeated SM Krishna in 1984 despite the Rajiv Gandhi wave.”

A Pandavapura farmer dismissed the strategy to field three Sumalatha namesakes: “I know Sumalatha Madam’s serial number is 20.”

While Sumalatha’s campaign runs on emotion, Nikhil’s is backed by lineage and financial heft. Not for nothing is Karnataka’s sugar bowl summing up the two campaigns as, “Kumar annandhu notu, Suma akkange votu”.

The ground sentiment may not be a fair reflection of 16 lakh voters in the constituency. Nikhil said, “We know how people feel.” As the sun set, Sumalatha waved to the crowd, a smooth transition from actor to politician in the making.