Polls: Candidates count on gods to win loyalty
The Hindu
Some are said to be distributing gifts with images of deities
Candidates contesting the Legislative Council polls on December 10 are said to be engaged in wooing voters with money and gifts. What’s more, a few candidates are distributing silver coins with images of deities or posters of gods so that “god-fearing voters” do not “cheat” after accepting gifts.
BJP candidate for Chitradurga seat K.S. Naveen is said to have distributed to the voters posters with images of Lord Rama and the Rama temple being constructed at Ayodhya. Congress candidate B. Somashekhar has taken exception to the distribution of such posters. In Hassan, the JD(S) leaders are said to have been distributing silver coins with the image of Lord Manjunatha of Dharmasthala.
A party worker, campaigning for a candidate in Hassan, said the coins or posters with images of gods will play a major role in ensuring loyalty of voters. “If they make a promise to vote for a particular candidate after accepting such gifts, they normally do not go against it,” he said.