Residents of Bellary say the campaign this time has been more of a show of strength -- each trying to outshine the other with the money and his campaign vehicles. There are no ordinary cars here. It is either the chopper or a grand Sports Utility Vehicles in which the candidates campaign.
The residents also say that the show would have been greater had the Election Commission not slapped a spending limit on the candidates.
Alongside money power comes muscle power. Instances of street fights, stone pelting are not new in Bellary. The worst incident during the poll campaign was the burning down of two SUVs belonging to Congress candidate Anil Lad, who switched loyalties from the BJP for these elections.
A complaint was filed and BJP candidate Sriramulu was picked up by the police for a day before being released. The incident occurred on the day Lad filed his nomination papers. The animosity between candidates is so bad that most candidates have hired private detectives to keep a watch on their rivals and complain to the EC.
Sources in the BJP and Congress say leaders are ready to spend up to Rs 100 crore to win the election. Winning Bellary is extremely important as it is hub of mining activity, which means that the cash registers keep ringing all the time.
Votes in Bellary are being exchanged for Rs 1000, a saree or a bottle of liquor. Even with the EC being stringent such activity continues behind their back, a few residents say.
Image: The burning vehicles of Congress candidate Anil Lad.
Also see: The dullest election in years
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