Anticipating a tight finish for the Bangalore Graduates’ constituency legislative council elections, former minister and BJP candidate Ramachandra Gowda is leaving nothing to chance and is trying to soothe anti-incumbency feelings among the voters, by appealing them to vote for “experience”, instead of new faces.
Mr Gowda says graduates form a very sensitive segment of the electorates and look for experience, instead of falling for “cosmetic appeal” of youthfulness of his all three primary opponents –IIM-B Prof. Ashwin Mahesh, A. Devegowda of the JD(S) and Ramoji Gowda of the Congress.
On Friday, Mr Gowda campaigned in the K.R. Puram assembly segment visiting several schools and colleges, which was tracked by Deccan Chronicle. At each meeting, he delivered an emotional appeal, asking the teachers and lecturers to exercise their franchise in his favour to finish the incomplete works he has been carrying out for the last 24 years. “Aggression is the hallmark of youngsters. But in politics, especially in the Upper House, one needs to be more experienced have a vision. Those contesting against me are young and aren't experienced. Neither do they have a vision. As a former minister, I was instrumental in banning lottery. This has saved many unemployed youth from going wayward,” he said.
Karnataka Haridasa Association President A.N. Nagaraja, who was campaigning for Mr Gowda, said in the cesspool of politics, Mr Gowda is one of the few who have an unblemished record and that the graduates should choose him for the council seat. “The BJP has lost its credence in the eyes of the public, not because of those groomed by the RSS, but by those who have come into the party from outside. Because of these outsiders, politicians like Mr Gowda face tough questions. One can safely say that Mr Gowda is free of corruption and nepotism," he said.
Taking time out of his busy campaigning, Mr Gowda said that he was confident of winning the seat for the fifth time as voters knew him and connected with him. "There are many schools and colleges in Bengaluru which are backing me voluntarily. Teachers, mainly women, like me because of my simplicity,” he said.