E P Unny takes an eyeful—and an earful—of H D Deve Gowda and his sons campaigning for the Assembly elections in Karnataka

There is another 123 ticking away down south. Karnataka is the only southern state where you have to count beyond two power blocs. And the post-poll deal could make the India’s nuclear agreement with the US look simple. In the event of a hung verdict, H D Deve Gowda’s little third party could play and outplay. Or so some assume. Banish all such assumptions—even that the Janata Dal(S) will only come in third. After the drubbing Mayawati gave pollsters and parachuting pundits, the maya in Indian elections is up there. So leave it to the veteran to figure things out.

“I’ve fought 13 elections and won 11. I know the mood of the people. We have a clear edge in these 89 constituencies,” says Deve Gowda, soon after campaigning concluded for the first of three phases. He sounds unusually confident on the phone. The voice matches the image—an equally unusual Gowda beaming from ear to ear on his party’s poll posters. Not the familiar resigned look, hesitant half-sentences and syllables on snooze mode. This first lot of constituencies is his stronghold. Is the seasoned player managing perceptions that should count in the next two polling phases?

“No, I say. Our party has made clear inroads into the northern districts as well. I’ve seen during my state-wide campaign how people reciprocate.”
To what?

“To our manifesto. It is crystal clear. Only doable promises. Not like the BJP and Congress that have promised free power. And our former CM introduced many innovative programmes despite his tenure being cut short by murky politicking by the Congress and BJP. He happens to be my son. Still I must say ‘the boy’ did a lot in 20 months and people know it.”
Sure.

... contd.