Net citizens get results right

By M. Gautham Machaiah

As usual, most psephologists were way off the mark while predicting the results of the Karnataka assembly elections, but netizens with their ears to the ground seem to have got the numbers right.

A poll carried on this blog in the run up to the elections, clearly indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would romp home to power. The poll question was, ‘Who will win the Karnataka elections?’

While 55 per cent voted in favour of the BJP, 27 per cent felt the Congress would emerge victorious. Nobody voted for the Janata Dal (S), while 18 per cent felt the results would throw up a hung assembly.

The election results have vindicated the stand of the netizens, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party bagging 110 seats, followed by the Congress with 80 seats, JDS with 28 seats and independents with six.

It is perhaps high time psephologists got their act right!

Picture sourced from: chickmagalur.nic.in/htmls/about_chickmagalur.htm

COMMENTS

Predicting election results are not easy because of the large number of variables involved. Even the best of the scientific surveys in the US have gone wrong!

-Pradeep, Dubai

Those psephologists assess the mood of the people with a coloured glass can never be accurate. The CNN-IBN post poll and exit poll survey gave 70 seats to BJP which proved terribly wrong. This was not the first time that they have erred. Even during the Gujarat polls they were off the mark by a huge margin. Yet they do not stop this kind of biased and misleading surveys to please those whom they are working for. Electronic media is losing its credibility. The sooner they realise this, the better for their TRP rating.

-S. Prakash, BJP

By and large there was a feeling among the observers of State politics, that this time BJP is bound to make it either on its own or with the support of a few MLAs from outside. It appears they have got it right. You may refer to my reaction of BJP coming to power, for your piece on the CM candidate of Congress.Probably a few media exit polls were over enthusiastic to predict that the Congress would win. Time and again they have proved themselves wrong.

-Manohar Yadavatti, Bangalore

Money bags rule Karnataka elections

Politicians’ assets increase by 677 % in four years

By M. Gautham Machaiah
Power corrupts, while absolute power corrupts absolutely. The details of assets filed by candidates contesting the first phase of elections to 89 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka on May 10, amply prove this.

The 2004 elections resulted in a fractured mandate which was manipulated by all three major parties, the Congress, the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to share the spoils of power. And predictably, the asset value of the candidates fielded by these parties has increased by a whopping 677 per cent in just four years.

With no party security a simple majority in the previous elections, the Congress and the JD(S) formed a coalition government. In about a year, the JD(S) pulled out of the alliance and formed the government with the BJP, which collapsed in 2007, leading to imposition of President’s rule.

The JD(S) which enjoyed power for the longest spell, has also cornered the highest booty. According to figures released by the Karnataka Election Watch (KEW), the assets of JD(S) candidates have increased by an unbelievable 1,292 per cent. At least, 25 of its candidates are worth over Rs 205 crore.

Congress candidates have posted an increase of 561 per cent in asset valuation, with 28 of its candidates being worth over Rs 147 crore.

The BJP has recorded an increase of 532 per cent, with 20 candidates being worth about 114 crore. Interestingly, a BJP candidate who was a minister for two years has reported a 2,604 per cent increase in his assets. His assets have gone up from Rs 37 lakh to over Rs 10 crore.

Among the super rich candidates in the fray are the sons of the self-proclaimed son of the soil, JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda—H.D. Kumaraswamy and H.D. Revanna. While Kumaraswamy has assets worth Rs 52 crore, Revanna has valued himself at Rs 103 crore.

Humble farmers indeed!

(Picture sourced from: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/287306.stm)

COMMENTS

Very true. Money bags rule the elections in Karnataka. Our guys are worse than the erstwhile rulers of Bihar.

-Manna Mandanna

Bangarappa abandons SP candidates

By M. Gautham Machaiah

The old war horse of Karnataka, S. Bangarappa, who is often described as a veteran party hopper, an opportunist and habitual defector, is said to be all set to cross the fence once again.

Bangarappa who is now with the Samajawadi Party (SP) is slated to return to the Congress, a party he had quit and rejoined three times in the past. This will be the fourth homecoming for the former Chief Minister who has shifted political loyalties a dozen times.

With Karnataka in election mode, Bangarappa’s sudden volte face has left the SP leadership red faced. Though Bangarappa had issued tickets to about 50 candidates in the first phase of the polls, he has now conveniently abandoned them.

With neither funds nor publicity material reaching them from the party, the candidates who have been delving into their own pockets, feel cheated and let down by Bangarappa. Some of these candidates who accuse their leader of stabbing them on the back, have already retired from the contest to join other parties. The plight of these aspirants who blindly trusted Bangarappa is truly pathetic.

But unfazed by this criticism, Bangarappa himself is contesting from Shikaripura constituency in Shimoga district as a Samajawadi candidate, with the backing of the Congress and Janata Dal (S). The election outcome will decide if Bangarappa will rejoin the Congress formally or lend outside support.

To a candidate who approached him, Bangarappa is said to have remarked: “The Samajawadi Party is dead in Karnataka. Now on, it is the Congress.”

Politics in India has no doubt hit the nadir, but leaders like Bangarappa who sacrifice the careers of hundreds of dedicated workers at the alter of elections for their own selfish gains, put even the most unscrupulous politician to shame.

(Picture sourced from http://www.thehindu.com)

Mocking at elections, cyber style

M. Gautham Machaiah

With elections round the corner in Karnataka, netizens are flooded with e-mails which amply reflect the cynicism of the electorate.

One particularly interesting e-mail is an application form to be filled by those contesting elections. The origin of the mail is unknown, but it succeeds in aptly capturing the political scenario in the country.

Here is how the mail goes:

Application form to be filled for contesting Indian elections

1. Name of Candidate:

2. Present Address: (i) Name of jail (ii) Cell number (If not in jail, attach proof of residence)

3. Political party: (List ONLY last five parties in chronological order).

4. Sex: A:Male; B:Female

5. Nationality: A:Italian; B:Indian

6. Reasons for leaving last party (circle one or more) A: Defected; B: Expelled; C: Bought out; D:
None of the above; E: All of above.

7. Reasons for contesting elections (circle one or more) A: To make money; B: To escape court trial; C: To grossly misuse power; D: To serve the public; E: I have no clue. (If you choose `D' attach certificate of sanity from a recognised government psychiatrist).

8. How many years of public service experience do you possess? A: 1-2 years; B: 2-6 years; C: 6-15 years; D: 15 plus years.

9. Give details of any criminal cases pending against you (Use as many additional sheets as you want).

10. How many years have you spent in jail? (Do not confuse with question 8) A: 1-2 years; B: 2-6 years; C: 6-15 years; D: 15 plus years.11. Are you involved in any financial scams? A: Why not; B: Of course; C: Definitely; D: I deny it; E: See a foreign hand.

12. What is your annual corruption income? A: 100-500 crore; B: 500-1,000 crores; C: Overflow...(Convert all your $ earning from Hawala etc to rupees).

14. Do you have any developmental plans for the country in mind? A: No; B: No; C: No; D No.

15. Describe in space provided, your achievements: --------------- .

Thumb impression of the candidate.

(Picture sourced from: http://www.animationstand.com/gallery/rubberco/Jail.jpg)

Where did the Coorgs come from?

The hypothesis is that they could be Kurds or Greeks

Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 23, 1997
Author: M. Gautham Machaiah

The origin of Kodavas (Coorgs), a martial race inhabiting Karnataka’s picturesque hill district Kodagu, has always been shrouded in mystery. But a book which has scientifically analysed their origin has come to one conclusion: They are not original inhabitants of India.

While the book, A Study of The Origins of Coorgs, by Lt Col Kongetira Chinappa Ponnappa, has not succeeded in pinpointing the roots of Coorgs, it says that they could be descendants of either pre-Muslirn Kurds or pre-Christian Georgians.

“All available clues point to the strong possibility that the Coorgs came to India as part of the pre-Muslim forces of the Persian emperors or with the light troops of Alexander the Great, or as part of the troops during the time of pre-Christian Bactrian Greeks.”

There is a great similarity between the Coorgs and pre-Muslim Kurds. Like the Coorgs, the kurds dwelt in mountain country for more than 2,000 years. Their dress, physical features, history in fighting various wars, bear a striking resemblance to Coorgs. However, after the Kurds embraced Islam, their cultural traits were overwhelmed by Islamic culture.

Stating that the Coorgs have no similarity to the Dravidian race, the book quotes Sir Erskine Perry who points out: “The Coorgs have no resemblance to any races of South India. By far they are the finest race I had seen in India in point of independent bearing, good looks and all outward signs of well-being.”

Coorgs are a different kind of people as compared to others in the country. They do not celebrate any of the Hindu festivals or follow their customs. Unlike other communities, Brahmins have no role in any of their ceremonies, be it marriage, death or festivals, the book says. Drawing a parallel between the character of Greeks and Coorgs, the book adds, “Like the Greeks, the Coorgs have an instinctive hatred for servility or sycophancy. A Coorg will never show more than the obligatory respect to a man in the higher orders of officialdom unless he positively respects that man.”

The Coorgs’ strong foundation of Greek culture indicates that they directly descended from the pre-Christian Greeks or were in close intercommunication with the Greeks. It is also likely that the Coorgs originally dwelt in the mountains of northern Iran, Taurus, Asia Minor or Caucausus and came to India as part of the fighting troops.

Their basic dress, ‘Kuppya’ and ‘Chele’, is suited to the cold climates and is similar to the attire in central Asia and Caucausus.

“Another possibility is that the Coorgs descended from pre-Muslim Kurds. There is no doubt that they were mercenaries in the Persian Army and probably in the armies of Alexander the Great Looking at the Kurds even today in Northern Iraq or Northern Iran, one is struck by their similarities in dress with the Coorgs."

But until a final conclusion is drawn, the debate will continue: Where did the Coorgs really come from?

(Picture sourced from www.boloji.com/places/024e.htm)

COMMENTS

These days there are enough books and theories on the origin and decendancy of the Coorgs. But why is no one from Coorg bothered to study the contribution of the dynasty that ruled the kingdom for almost three centuries. The palace is now housing government offices and the area around the tombs has been encroached. Is this the attitude one shows to monuments of historical importance? Are these not of any archaeological value?
-Manohar Yadawatti, Bangalore

Thanks Gautham. I just sent the Coorg story to a bunch of people. Do we have any more material for reading on this topic? Thanks!
-Sindhu M.C, New Jersey

Gosh ! Coorgs then are a totally mixed up race. Pre-Kurds, Pre-Georgian and what not ! And where does that leave me - a cross between a Coorg and a Tamil Brahmin ? A total Mocktail !!
-Kartik Krishnaswamy, Bangalore

I knew that our race had some Greek origin because apparently in Greece there are a few streets with Coorg names(not quite sure how far it is true).But this was something worth reading.. Thanks Gautham. It is time to do a little more research on my own race!
-Sneha

A really good post.
-Raky