Where's the money?

FIRST PERSON FROM GROUND ZERO MiD DAY REPORTER VISITS THREE 'VOTE BANKS' ON POLL EVEVoters had taken cash from the three major parties, and were expecting more late in the nightI set out from our Airport Road office to check the mood at some of Bangalore's poor areas, where parties are routinely said to bribe voters with money and liquor a day before elections.The Election Commission's hawk eye meant policemen everywhere. The rain had also made it difficult for party workers to go around with inducements.Here is what I saw:7:00: Chandra LayoutComes under Bangalore South. No power. It is pouring. I am told BJP leader Somanna's men are distributing Rs 3,500 a booth. A party man said he would ensure the money reached voters of 30 booths. The transactions were being carried out near Hotel Sagar.The mood among the voters here was confused. They were expecting more money late in the night. I heard no mention of liquor. Perhaps it is truly a dry election.9:00: Bovi ColonyThis is a Bangalore Central area. Again no power. The rain had let up. Voters had taken money from three parties. The Congress and the BJP had paid Rs 100 a voter, and the JD(S) Rs 50. Voters said they would take money from everyone and vote Zameer Ahmed Khan of the JD(S). Someone later told me Zameer had paid more money, and so he would get a bulk of the votes.10:00: BasavangudiMavalli is an old Bangalore pocket, most famous for MTR, or Mavalli Tiffin Rooms. The restaurant is considered one of Bangalore's heritage places, and is now a popular instant food brand. Campaigners here were upset they hadn't received their daily allowance of Rs 400 for many days. A couple of them were pani puri vendors. Most ply small trades. We would have made more money if we'd continued with our work, said a middle-aged man. Ananth Kumar is the candidate here, but many here were unhappy he hadn't stepped into their colony. A little ahead is a more affluent enclave. Here, the mood was in favour of Capt Gopinath. Ananth Kumar hasn't come, and neither has Krishna Byre Gowda. We may end up voting for Capt Gopinath, said Kiran, a middle-class voter who leads a residents' welfare association.The BJP, I was told, had hired some pre-university students for campaigning at Rs 6,000 for two months, but they weren't around yesterday. They were perhaps busy watching the IPL matches.

Where's the money?

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