The most devastating thing for a freedom loving democracy has taken place. We've been presented with evidence that there are attempts a foot to subvert free and fair elections with money, goodies and intimidation. Just hours before the polling stations open, elections in the RR Nagar constituency in Karnataka have been deferred after a room full of voter ids and cash distribution lists were found. Raids have taken place across Karnataka, bags full of cash and trucks full of alcohol have been recovered. The modus operandi seems to be insidous, political campaigners trying to hold poor people hostage with the promise of money, pressure cookers and other household items. Political workers are accused of visiting houses, confiscating voter id cards to ensure supervised voting. The bjp has squarely put the black ball in the congress court after congress campaign items were recovered from the voter id trovers and congress frontmen caught with cash. The congress in turn is pointing to an old allegation of Bjp's candidate Sriramulu's alleged attempts to try and influence judges. It's become ravenous and disturbing. The vast majority of the people of Karnataka will expectedly reject all such cheap stunts and vote with their hearts and minds. But that some in our netadom are trying to convert our democracy into a banana republic is shameless. They need to be rejected with equal vehemence. So who's doing it? How deep is it running and how do we ensure a free mandate being elected tomorrow? We ask and help answer those questions.
