For me, Gundlupet poll is a matter of life and death: Niranjan Kumar

Gundlupet: Countering the appeal of the Congress’s Geetha Mahadevprasad, who is banking heavily on the sympathy factor winning her the Gundlupet seat in Sunday’s bypoll, may not be easy, but  BJP candidate, K R Niranjan Kumar is trying his best. Dwelling on his previous defeats at the hands of her husband, the late minister, H. C Mahadevprasad, he too plays on the people's sympathy, telling them,  “For the Congress a victory or defeat will not make a difference. But to me its a matter of life and death".

His wife adds to the drama, as she goes to door- to- door with party workers in tow, telling villagers tearfully that her husband has invested everything in these elections.  “I have hardly spent time with my children for the last 15 to 20 days.  We don't have anything. Please elect my husband,” she pleads.  While Mr Niranjan lost  to Mr Mahadevaprasad in the 2008 and 2013 Assembly elections,  his father too was trounced by him in the 1994 and 1999 elections. "What sin  have I committed? Give me a chance to serve you, " he begs at almost all public meetings and road shows in the constituency.

"I know  Gundlupet better than anybody else. I know the names of almost every voter.  I lost the 2013 assembly polls by just 2000 votes. Please elect me this time. Trust me, I will work to improve the drinking water system in all 181 villages and  the town,” he promises  a small group of people near  Gundulpet town.  The BJP candidate travels in his car to villages and sometimes in an open goods tempo when he is accompanied by state leaders. Setting off early , he  keeps a stock of water and food to refuel him on his campaign with a team of party workers, strictly following the strategy that has been worked out for him  by  MLC, V Somanna. This time, he believes, the people will stop “punishing him” and give him their votes.