Politicians have increasingly turned to new ways to canvass for votes. Narendra Modi used holograms to appear in dozens of rallies at once in 2014. Other leaders have tried catchy satirical songs, expensive roadshows and door-to-door voting. But it is not often that a flash mob breaks out for a politician.
This is exactly what happened in Bengaluru's Orion Mall. With placards in hand, a flash mob danced in an effort to seek votes for Congress candidate for Bengaluru (North) constituency - Krishna Byre Gowda. The group of 30 dancers and 25 volunteers surprised the crowd at the mall on Sunday evening and even held up signs which read 'With You', 'For You' which is the theme of the campaign.
"This is a cosmopolitan constituency and there are young and old people here and it is important to increase awareness of voting among them. It does not matter who they vote for. It is their choice but in Bengaluru, we have seen a voter turnout lower than 60% so we are trying to reinforce the importance of voting, especially young voters who should vote in large numbers," Krishna Byre Gowda told reporters on the sidelines of the flash mob.
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The flash mob was organised and executed by volunteers working with the Congress leader who is contesting against Union Minister and incumbent MP Sadananda Gowda of the BJP. The flash mob went ahead even as a member of the crowd chanted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Krishna Byre Gowda reiterated that the choice is up to the voter and encouraged everyone to vote in the upcoming elections.
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"I believe the job of an MP is to take the voice of the people and make it reverberate in the halls of the Parliament. The last time I fought a Lok Sabha election, I gave a good fight to six-time MP late Shri Ananth Kumar. This time, I am sure that people of Bengaluru North will give me their mandate to serve them for the next five years in the Lok Sabha,” Krishna Byre Gowda said.
Krishna Byre Gowda was thrust into the elections in a last-minute decision made by the Congress party after JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda opted to contest the elections from Tumakuru. He is the current minister of Rural Development, Law and Parliamentary Affairs in the Karnataka Assembly.