Five years ago, they came to your houses asking for votes and most of them are back at your doorstep again. Elections in Karnataka are merely a week away and campaigning has reached its peak. In many constituencies, voters are livid with politicians and incumbent MLAs and have fearlessly confronted them.
From threats to boycott voting to gheraoing vehicles and even assaulting them, constituents have expressed their anger against legislators in at least 10 incidents in Karnataka in the past few weeks.
Here is a list of some such angry encounters
Congress MLA Tanveer Sait from Narasimharaja
On Thursday, Primary and Secondary Education Minister and MLA of Narasimharaja constituency in Mysuru, Tanveer Sait faced the ire of his constituents.
While he was on a door-to-door campaign, an angry resident stopped Tanveer Sait in the middle of the road and demanded that he be heard.
“Look at this road. Since the past four years it has not been repaired. That is just the beginning. I have voted for the Congress always. I have voted for you and my father voted for your father. You don’t seem to care,” says the man Paramesh.
While Tanveer Sait’s followers tell Paramesh to shut up, he demands answers. “I have every right to question him. I am a voter,” he added. However, Sait and his supporters continue on their campaign trail.
Tanveer Sait being questioned by a voter in Narasimharaja constituency pic.twitter.com/Ht5OFDtV7H
— Theja Ram (@thejaram92) May 5, 2018
BJP MLA CT Ravi from Chikkamagaluru
The constituents of Chikkamangaluru’s Allampura lashed out at their legislator in April, demanding to know what he had done to help them since he was first elected in 2004.
In a couple of videos, which have now gone viral on social media, people can be seen questioning him on the issues of water shortage and the lack of housing facilities for the poor.
“No one is listening to our problems. We elected you, right? The promise was to construct houses for the poor. Where are the houses?” They questioned.
Ravi tries to pacify them but fails.
Congress MLA Santosh Lad from Kalghatagi
On Wednesday night, MLA of Dharwad and incumbent Labour Minister Santosh Lad was in for a shock. Lad, who had paid a visit to Salinakoppa village encountered an angry mob of residents who began shouting slogans as soon as his car pulled up at the entrance of the village.
“Down, down, Santosh Lad,” the residents shouted. After maneuvering out of the car, Lad asked the residents why they were unhappy.
“You forgot about us and now you have come to ask for votes?” the residents asked. They alleged that they would vote for JD(S) instead as he had failed to work towards developing the village. Instead of addressing the crowd, Lad gets into his car and drives away.
Voters question Labour Minister Santosh Lad's contribution to development. pic.twitter.com/JC5N4XBpdf
— Theja Ram (@thejaram92) May 5, 2018
Congress MLA R Narendra from Hanur
Sitting MLA of Hanur R Nagendra was gheraoed by residents of Koudahalli on Friday when he and his supporters had gone for a door-to-door campaign. Angry residents who had gathered outside the village and they stopped Nagendra’s jeep from entering.
“Where were you all this time? You remembered us now because we have to vote? Look, even you have to come by jeep to enter this village. The roads are so bad. We don’t have proper infrastructure,” the residents alleged.
As the people began shouting slogans against Nagendra, his supporters began abusing the locals. Angry residents charged at Nagendra and tried to assault him. This led to a clash between his supports and the people.
Here are some of the MLAs who got gheraoed by their constituents pic.twitter.com/z7fFBQmNEM
— Theja Ram (@thejaram92) May 5, 2018
MLA Ashok Kheny from Bidar South (Congress candidate this time)
This controversial businessman too had to face outraged residents. In April this year, Kheny visited his constituency for the second time since he was elected.
The businessman-turned politician had promised the constituents of turning Bidar South into a Mini Singapore. Unimpressed residents stopped him from getting out of the car.
This one is in Bidar South, where Ashok Kheny was booed by voters. pic.twitter.com/hUWXynb9UK
— Theja Ram (@thejaram92) May 5, 2018
Congress MLA H Anjaneya from Holalkere
The incumbent Congress MLA and the Minster for Social Welfare, H Anjaneya is facing another kind of backlash. His constituents are threatening to boycott the elections and are refusing to vote.
Residents of Tirumlapur village in Holalkere said they were planning to boycott the Assembly elections to protest against the failure to ensure adequate supply of drinking water. The protesters had said that the entire population of 1,500 would not vote as the residents have been depending on a single borewell for the past five years.
BJP MLA BS Yeddyurappa from Shikaripur
Residents of five remote villages in Shikaripur constituency have threatened to boycott Assembly elections as their long-standing demands have not been met. The residents of these villages allege that they do not have roads and civic amenities.
At Brahamanawada in Aramanekoppa Gram Panchayat limits, residents have installed flex banners stating that the hoarding was a sign of protest and that they would not vote this time around.
JD(S) MLA MT Krishnappa from Turuvekere
In Amasandra village, supporters of JD(S) MLA MT Krishnappa and the village residents clashed as the people demanded a report of his developmental works for the region.
MLA Krishnappa was on a door-to-door campaign when residents questioned the MLA as to why they should cast their vote for him despite lack of development. Angered by this, the MLA’s supporters thrashed the village residents. The Dandinashivara Police intervened and brought the situation under control.