The current thread of politics in Karnataka is woven around the spread of the H1N1 virus which has claimed five lives in the state, with rival politicians from the Congress and the BJP busy blaming each other for spread of the flu. Politicians are even wishing the swine flu on their rivals, especially since crucial bypolls for five Assembly seats are scheduled for August 18.

The Congress has accused BJP leaders, including Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Health Minister B Sriramulu, of spending their time strategising for the bypoll and sparing little time to lead the fight against the H1N1 virus. The Congress has for days now been questioning the invisibility of Sriramulu, a mining baron from the iron ore rich Bellary district, from Health Department meetings called to discuss ways to tackle the epidemic.

“I object to the CM and Health Minister’s absence from the meetings. If the Prime Minister has attended such meeting, I don’t understand the lack of interest on the part of these leaders. The state government has adopted a swine-like obstinacy,” said state Congress president R V Deshpande.

Former chief minister Bangarappa and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Siddaramaiah have also been at the forefront of criticising the BJP government’s handling of the epidemic. “Yeddyurappa and Sriramulu are busy playing politics and even taking time for campaigning in the bypolls. The health and well being of the people seem to rank very low in the order of priorities,” Bangarappa said in a separate press conference.

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