Bengaluru: Ganesha Chaturthi and the upcoming assembly elections have a connection. With the elections just a few months away, the Ganesha pandals this year have become bigger and also become more in number. That is because those putting up these pandals enjoy the political patronage of local MLAs and corporators.
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Not just sitting MLAs and corporators, even defeated candidates and aspiring candidates are extending financial help to youngsters and children to celebrate Ganesha festival.
It is a win-win situation for both politicians and youngsters. Politicians get a political mileage as youngsters put up large, life-size banners of netas. These youngsters get good money for setting up the pandal. They also continue to work for the party these politicians represent.
Narendra Kumar, a resident of Hebbal, said that some youngsters are smart and entertain politicians from all the parties and collect money from them.
“In our area, Hebbal MLA Y.A. Narayanaswamy was called on the stage to make a speech. He was garlanded and youth leaders too were felicitated by the MLA. He announced Anna dana (free lunch) in the name of Lord Ganesha,” he said.
In K.R. Puram, most of the roads have displayed flexes of local MLA Byrati Basavaraj as he has obviously give funds to put up pandals. Mr Basavaraj has also organised cultural programmes to keep the vote bank happy and to lure them to voting for him, said Yellappa K., a resident of Devasandra in K.R. Puram.
A Noisy fest
87,985 idols immersed on Saturday, 3,925 were made of PoP.
47,609 idols immersed on Sunday, 3,32 were made of PoP.
55dB during the day, 45dB at night.
