The 2013 and 2008 Karnataka assembly elections differ in one big way: the missing mining money of Bellary's Reddy brothers. Riding on the commodity boom of the early 2000s, the brothers, who virtually ran an independent republic in the mining town, greased the BJP's successful campaign of 2008 with their huge and almost unlimited fund supply.
The Reddy brothers were able to not only take care of Bellary's BJP candidates, but also ensured that the party's contestants in adjoining Raichur, Koppal, Gadag and Haveri could win. But this time, with the powerful Janardhana Reddy in prison, the other two brothers are keeping a low profile.
Not surprising then that the Election Commission has so far seized only Rs 10 crore against the huge haul of Rs 45.57 crore in 2008. A stunned poll panel had then admitted that Rs 45.57 crore was the highest amount seized in any general election held in a state four years before Karnataka's. Money then was transported ingeniously in ambulances which are under the EC's scanner now.
As Prof James Manor of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London, puts it: "No single party has a huge advantage in terms of funds as the BJP did in 2008 when it 'bought' a large number of key Congress workers in many districts." There is still money flowing, but in an invisible way.
The invisibility can be in subtle forms. The most common being house-to-house distribution of money. According to a poll analyst, women self-help groups are the most in demand in these elections. "These groups have become the decisive factor in elections and are used by all parties to distribute money. Each group is given a minimum sum of Rs 3 to Rs 5 lakh to campaign,'' he says.
Former Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami, who oversaw the 2008 elections, asserts: "I refuse to believe that the urge to spend money will die down. Instead of cash, it can be material. Overnight, parties cannot have become good boys.'' The present trend is of candidates buying insurance policies for their voters, saying: "We may die, but the insurance policy will see your family through!''
Even as Karnataka was the first state to go to polls in 2008 under delimitation of constituencies, the state has also become the experimenting ground to tighten cash flow during elections. Apart from EC's hawk-eyed officials, staff from the income tax department have been roped in to check any suspected transaction of money. Any cash withdrawals above Rs 10 lakh from the bank will now come under the scanner, and there'll be no hosting of meals for gatherings. The court had to intervene in one such 'Beegara Oota' feast recently. It was permitted only after ensuring that no candidates of political parties or their agents or party workers participate in the feast that was to be hosted at the bridegroom's house in a village in Arkalgud taluk of Hassan district.
However, all party leaders agree that it is just impossible to stop free flow of money. "With pre-poll projections propping up a particular party's prospects, there are a lot of people volunteering to fund such parties,'' sources say.
As per a conservative estimate, not less than Rs 3,000 crore will flow in these elections from all parties put together. "Each candidate is willing to spend a minimum of Rs 5 crore against the EC's ceiling of Rs 16 lakh. The commission has made candidates jittery, but when voters want money and candidates are willing to give, there is no stopping cash flow,'' sources add.
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