Candidates Of KJP Fear Losing Due To Change In Party Symbol

Haveri: In the rural tracts of Karnataka, the election symbol is apparently more important than the candidate. It is an identity, and its loss can be a big blow. So much so that Harish Ingalagondi, 35, Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP) candidate from Hirekerur, Haveri district, attempted suicide after the Election Commission (EC) took away his coconut symbol, and allotted him coconut tree instead.

It is a known that voters in rural areas, where illiteracy is a major factor, identify the candidates through election symbols.

“Election symbols play a key role in the elections. Many voters in rural areas are illiterates. So, it is difficult for them to read the names on the ballot paper or electronic voting machine. They depend on the symbol to elect the candidate,” pro vice-chancellor of Jain University Sandeep Shastri opines.

For the KJP candidates, the EC’s action meant canvassing from scratch. Ingalagondi, in protest, consumed eight pills at the KJP office at Ijari Lakamapur in Haveri city last week, and was rushed to a government hospital.

“I took the decision in desperation when I came to know that the EC had allocated coconut tree instead of coconut for me. I started campaigning two months ago and had reached out to all the voters in the constituency. I told them about my election symbol – coconut. It will be difficult for me to meet them again and explain the change in the symbol,” says Ingalagondi.

With no other option, Ingalagondi withdrew his nomination in support of the BJP candidate.

KJP Factor

In the 2013 elections, the KJP had played a big role in the defeat of the BJP, especially in the Lingayat dominated districts of North Karnataka.

KJP candidates won six seats, impacting the BJP whose candidates ended up as runners-up. In 36 constituencies, KJP finished second, securing 9.83% of the total votes polled.

For example, in Haveri Assembly constituency, KJP candidate Neharu Olekara polled 52,911 votes on the coconut symbol as against BJP candidate Dr Malleshappa Harijan’s 5,153 votes. Congress candidate Rudrappa Manappa Lamani won the seat with 83,119 votes. In Harappanahalli constituency, BJP candidate G Karunakara Reddy (48,548 votes) lost to Congressman MP Ravindra (56,954 votes), a difference of 8,406. KJP candidate N Kotresh played spoilsport for Reddy, cutting into his vote bank and polling 27,997 votes.

In Shivamogga, BJP strongman K S Eshwarappa lost as KJP candidate S Rudregowda polled 39,077 votes losing by a sliver margin of 278 votes to Congress candidate Prasannakumar K B (39,355). Eshwarappa came in third with 33,462 votes. If KJP’s Rudregowda wasn’t in the fray, Eshwarappa would have been MLA.

KJP candidates B S Yeddyurappa (Shikaripura), B R Patil (Aland), Vishwanath Patil (Bailhongal), U B Banakar (Hirekerur), Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli (Bidar), Guru Patil Shiraval (Shahapur) contested successfully on the coconut symbol in 2013.

Candidates Question change

Basavaraj Tikehalli, KJP candidate from Haveri reserved Assembly segment, said the changed symbol of coconut tree is a big hurdle for them.

“We have to convince voters at their respective segments. We demanded that the Election Commission allot coconut symbol, but they declined. The officials told us the EC had not listed the coconut symbol this time. I suspect the hand of two national parties – Congress and BJP – in misleading the Election Commission,’’ says Basavaraj Tikehalli.

EC officials also claimed that the coconut is the symbol of a regional party in Goa. No doubt, this confusion could benefit only the Big 2.

Some voters are not sure why the EC has done away with the coconut this election. “The coconut symbol is very popular in this region. It is very easy to identify. Many people think that KJP candidates are contesting on the coconut symbol,” says Mallikarjuna Dabbannavara, 30, from Haveri.

However, a few voters feel that election symbols hardly matter. “We are aware that election symbols of independent candidates keep changing during every election. I have no problem selecting the candidate while casting my vote,” says Ratna Bankolli, 48, a homemaker.

Haveri deputy commissioner M V Venkatesh denied the allegations made by KJP candidates. “The Election Commission had sent the list of 150 election symbols for the benefit of candidates. The coconut symbol was not included. If any candidate wanted a particular symbol, he/she should have sent a request to the Election Commission for allotment,” says Venkatesh.

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(Y Maheswara Reddy and Basavaraj Maralihalli are freelance writers based out of Bengaluru and Haveri, respectively. They are members of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters)