Capital Voter lost again

54.53% polling in the capital: Voter lost again

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Efforts to bring the voters of 28 assembly constituencies of the capital to the polling booths have again failed. Voters of the city have failed to vote in the expected amount despite continuous awareness raising for one month. The voter turnout is less than the last time, which is a huge disappointment.

The turnout in the city is less than last time. According to the announcement released at 6 pm on Wednesday, the voter turnout was 54.53 percent, which is 0.59 percent less than last time. Even if all calculations are finally completed, a couple of amounts may increase. Thus, the exercise of wooing voters to the polling booths in large numbers has failed.

In 2018, the voter turnout was 55.12 percent. Out of 90.36 lakh voters, 49.80 lakh had cast their votes. The situation was no different in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Thus, the Election Commission and BBMP made a lot of efforts to increase the voter turnout to at least 75%. More than ever before, sweep programs were organized to create awareness about voting. However, the voter did not accept all this.

Awareness in the IT-BT sector: 

IT-BT employees are the majority of those who have come to the city for employment. Their population is also high here. Therefore, it was requested to create more awareness and vote in companies where they are present. A holiday was also declared on polling day. Even though they requested him to leave the trip and picnic and vote, to no avail.

An awareness program was organized to convey the importance of voting in many areas including malls, bus stations, science centers, educational institutions. Voting oath was also taught in many places.

Awareness in Factory – Garments: 

BBMP officials created awareness about voting by organizing program with Kasia, FKCCI, industrial area associations, owners. He requested that all the workers should be facilitated to vote. Accordingly, on the day of polling, the owners were also given a holiday. However, the target of increasing voter turnout could not be reached.

Attraction of Theme Polling Stations: 

To attract voters to the polling stations, many theme based polling stations including pink, green, disabled friendly were set up. All these facilities failed to attract voters. Apart from this, many organizations organized many programs to vote. Voters were called to go to the polling station. Yet the electorate was not completely moved.

 The name on the two sides of the ballot!

 The main reason for the decrease in voter turnout in the city is that both the hometown and the place of employment in Bengaluru have a voter ID card. Epic will be done for employment and residence record. But most of them go to their hometown and vote or do not vote at all. About 20 percent of people are like this. Many candidates opined that this is the reason why there will not be an expected amount of voting in the city.

 Also, many people are not interested in voting. What about us if someone comes? Associations and organizations say that the voter turnout is decreasing due to indifference.

 'It's satisfied voting not fall'

 Any increase in turnout is welcome. There has been a decline in voter turnout in the last three elections. District Election Officer Tushar Girinath said that the any increase in the number of voters this time is a good development.

 Polling Average

 Constituency; 2018; 2023%

 150– Yalahanka;63.01; 60.59

 151- K.R.Pura;58.60; 52.14

 152- Batarayanpur;57.44; 56.94

 153- Yeswantpur; 58.43; 63.75

 154 – Rajarajeshwarinagar; 54; 22; 54.23

 155- Dasarahalli;52.67; 49.47

 156 – Mahalakshmi Layout;54.72; 54.65

 157- Malleshwar; 56.29; 55.03

 158– Hebbala;55.32; 55.04

 159- Pulakeshinagar;53.24; 53.96

 160 – Sarvajnanagar;52.69; 53.44

 161 – C.V. Raman Nagar; 48.98; 46.96

 162 – Shivajinagar; 55.09; 56.36

 163 – Shantinagar; 53.58; 53.63

 164 – Gandhinagar; 55.13; 56.73

 165 – Rajajinagar; 56.74; 56.55

 166- Govindarajanagar;53.54; 53.84

 167 – Vijayanagar; 49.95; 48.72

 168 – Chamarajpet; 56.16; 54.14

 169- Chikkapet;57.57; 57.74

 170- Basavanagudi;52.94; 54.78

 171 – Padmanabhanagar;60.23; 57.22

 172 – BTM Layout;50.09; 48.23

 173 – Jayanagar;54.92; 55.79

 174 – Mahadevpur; 56.34; 54.41

 175- Bommanahalli; 47.03; 47.35

 176 – Bangalore South; 53.17; 53.08

 177- Anekal; 63.15; 61.97

 Highest Polling (Constituency): 

Yeshavantpur, Anekal, Yalahanka, Chikkapet, Jayanagar.

 Lowest Polling (Constituency): 

C.V. Raman Nagar, Bommanahalli, Vijayanagar, BTM Layout, Dasarahalli.

97,13,349: Total electorate

50,24,775: Men

 46,86,813: Women

 1761: Sexual minorities

 52,96,902: who voted

 26,98,273: Men

 25,98,266: Women

 363: Sexual minorities

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್ ಮಾಡಿ...

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಶೇ 54.53ರಷ್ಟು ಮತದಾನ: ಮತ್ತೆ ಸೋತ ಮತದಾರ

389 ಅಭ್ಯರ್ಥಿಗಳ ಭವಿಷ್ಯ ಇಂದು ನಿರ್ಧಾರ

Congress-BJP: ‘hat-trick’ battle of heroes

Bengaluru South Survey: The leverage of personal charisma for re-election

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌

Bengaluru: The 'development achievement' of the person who won in Bengaluru South district, where the personal charisma of the candidates is more important than the ideology of the parties, is here. That's why there are more hat-trick heroes here. Seven of the 11 constituencies of this range have won three times in a row and are all set to enter the assembly for the fourth time. They are fighting to re-establish their winning streak in the other four constituencies.

Ramalingareddy of Congress, M. Krishnappa, BJP's R. Ashoka, Ravi Subramanya, Satish Reddy, M.Krishnappa, Munirathna have won a hat-trick and are back in the field in their respective fields. Significantly, new faces have come into the fray to compete with them.

In Bengaluru city party support is one weight, personal charisma is another weight. At one point the personal charisma and association with the voters of the constituency is capital for some candidates of Congress or BJP. Thus, they have been able to consistently show their winning smile.

No matter which party comes to power, Bengaluru has a tradition of four MLAs becoming ministers. Apart from the development of the capital, MLAs also hold important portfolios. That's why there are so many hearts yearning for victory here. However, it is equally true that people have never accepted those who do not develop charisma and do not get people.

BJP has been winning in Bengaluru South Lok Sabha constituency since Ananthkumar's time. M. Krishnappa of Congress, B.K. Hariprasad also did not see victory here. However, the picture of assembly constituencies here is different.

Ramalingareddy has won thrice from Congress in BTM layout. He had won four times from Jayanagar before that and the constituency and voters are well known to him. BJP and JDS are changing the candidate here every time. This has led to a stronghold for the Congress. In Vijayanagar, M. Krishnappa has built the stronghold of Congress. One time friend V. Somanna was also married to Krishnappa. Last time, H from BJP. Ravindra lost by a narrow margin. This time too, Ravindra is the opponent of Krishnappa and there is fierce competition.

BJP's R. Ashoka in Padmanabhanagar and also this time in Kanakapura, contested against Congress President D.K. Shivakumar is eager to retain Padmanabhanagar as well. Ashoka, who had won three times in a huge constituency like Uttarahalli, also won three times in Padmanabhanagar and achieved a 'double hat trick'. Raghunath Reddy from the Congress is in the fray to enter the Legislative Assembly once again. The fact that Shivakumar himself has claimed to be the candidate here has led to more competition.

Ravisubramanya in Basavanagudi, Satish Reddy in Bommanahalli, M. in Bangalore South. Krishnappa has won thrice from BJP. Ravi Subramanya, Satish Reddy, M. Even Krishnappa's opponents are changing every time. In all the three constituencies, the JD(S) was gaining votes, even though the Congress was putting up a lot of resistance. This time too Congress is the main opponent in these constituencies. Candidates are trying to wrest the seat from BJP. Basavanagudi U.B. Venkatesh, Bommanahalli film producer Umapathy Gowda, Bangalore South RK. Ramesh is contesting from Congress. R.K. Ramesh's problem is the rebel candidate Rajagopal Reddy. JD(S) is eager to get more votes and surprise as usual.

In Govindarajanagara BJP's Umesh Shetty is relying on V.Somanna Nambala. Priyakrishna of Congress is eager to win the constituency again this time. For this, his father, the party's constituency candidate M. Krishnappa is the backbone. The fact that Somanna, who had a good hold in the constituency, is busy coming here and campaigning, it seems that the Congress has gained more strength.

Muniratna Rajarajeshwari is the BJP candidate in the Nagar constituency, which has always been in controversy due to the voter ID card dispute and the election itself was delayed and unnecessary development. Muniratna, who has won twice from Congress and once from BJP, Congress MP D.K. Suresh stands as a backbone for the candidate Kusuma. In 2019, Kusuma was the rival of Muniratna, who had left the Congress and contested from the BJP. This time Being with D.K. Suresh has increased the competition.

BJP's Uday Garudachar and Congress' R.V. want to win the Chikkapet assembly constituency for the second time. Devraj is fighting again. In 2013 R.V. If Devaraj had won, Uday Garudachar would have won in 2018. Both are contestants for the third time and there is fierce competition. The fact that KGF Babu, who wanted to contest from the Congress, is in the fray as an independent, there are signs that Devaraj will attract votes.

In Jayanagar, BJP and Congress are again in competition to regain the seat. BJP, which had won the seat twice, lost to Soumya Reddy of Congress last time after the death of Vijayakumar. Activists saying that BJP lost because father Ramalingareddy-daughter Soumya Reddy and JDS were united, C.K. He is with Ramamurthy and is eager to take the seat again under the BJP wing.

There are different calculations of Congress and BJP in a total 11 constituencies, focusing on individual charisma, party ideology and local issues. There are 7 BJP and 4 Congress MLAs out of 11, and both the national parties are eager to retain them and win more.

38,57,653: Total number of voters in Bengaluru South constituency

20,04,581: Men

18,52,418: Women

654: Sexual minorities

149: Finally the candidates in the fray

Strength of parties in previous elections

Constituency; 2013; 2018

Rajarajeshwari Nagar; Congress; Congress/BJP

Bangalore South;BJP;BJP

Anekal; Congress; Congress

Govindarajanagar; Congress; BJP

Vijayanagar; Congress; Congress

Basavanagudi;BJP;BJP

Padmanabhanagar;BJP;BJP

BTM Layout;Congress;Congress

Jayanagar; BJP; Congress

Bommanahalli;BJP;BJP

Chikkapet; Congress; BJP

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್‌ ಮಾಡಿ...

ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ದಕ್ಷಿಣ ಸಮೀಕ್ಷೆ: ಕಾಂಗ್ರೆಸ್‌–ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಹ್ಯಾಟ್ರಿಕ್‌ ವೀರರ ಸೆಣೆಸಾಟ

Hello....Vote for them!

Call to voters' mobiles; How did you get the mobile number and  Constituency details?

Hello....Vote for them!

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌

Bangalore: Hello... We.... We are speaking from the office of the candidate of the constituency. ....‌ Vote for them. Please give them victory...

Such calls are being made to voters in bengaluru assembly constituencies. The mobile number of everyone in the house is also being called by the candidates' side of the same constituency. It is true that the voters' constituency is known from the voters' list. But how did he get his mobile number? To this question, there is no answer even in the Election Commission, which collects voter data.

The voter ID card (EPIC) contains the name, date of birth and address. There is no mobile number. However, how did the candidates get their mobile numbers? Since Aadhaar is linked, the mobile number is being collected. Sources in the Election Commission, however, said an investigation has also been initiated into how this information, which was supposed to be confidential with the Election Commission, came into the hands of the candidates. However, the investigation is unlikely to be over till the elections are over. There is no hope of continuing after that.

"The person who called me was from the ----party's candidate's side. He appealed to you to vote for this candidate of the constituency. When I asked how they got my information, they said we have data collection, sir, we have it," said Srinivas, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar.

"How did you get my mobile number? You stole the information? Then she said the government had given him the information. However, when I asked him to tell me who gave it to me, the girl who made the call disconnected the call saying that I was calling from the candidate's office," he said. Maheshwari said.

'Hello, your --constituency candidate speaks. I have also been getting calls saying 'Namaskar –- vote for me'. These are the creation of call centres. Candidates do not speak directly. A recorded voice is being heard.

Thus, such calls are not limited to a couple of constituencies, candidates of the same party. Calls from candidates of all major parties are going to the mobile phones of the respective constituency voters. Information that should have been kept confidential in the Election Commission has also been made public. It is being alleged that this is nothing but information theft.

"The candidates' side or some private entity has gone door-to-door for the candidates and collected information. His mobile number may have been found then," some say. They take one's mobile number when information is collected at home. However, there is no explanation as to how all the four or five people in the house are getting calls on their mobile numbers separately. 

There have been complaints about calls. An FIR has already been lodged in the matter and an investigation is underway.
Manoj Kumar Meena, State Chief Electoral Officer 

ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ ಓದಲು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ಕ್ಲಿಕ್‌ ಮಾಡಿ..

ಮತದಾರರ ಮೊಬೈಲ್‌ಗೆ ಕರೆ; ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ– ಮೊಬೈಲ್‌ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ದೊರೆತಿದ್ದು ಹೇಗೆ? 

Dr. Rajkumar Birthday- Fans Festival

 ನಿನದೆ ನೆನಪು ದಿನವೂ ಮನದಲ್ಲಿ

ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ: ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಹಬ್ಬ

 ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷದ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 24ರಂದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನತೆಗೆ ಹಬ್ಬದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ. ಅಂದು ತಮ್ಮ ನೆಚ್ಚಿನ ರಾಜಣ್ಣನ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ. ಇದು ಕುಟುಂಬವೊಂದರ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವಾಗದೆ ಐದು ಕೋಟಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರ ಆಚರಣೆಯ ದಿನ. ಕಳೆದ ವರ್ಷದಿಂದ ಈ ಆಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಧಿಯ ಕೈವಾಡ ಮೆರೆದಿದೆ. ಇದನ್ನು ಮೆಟ್ಟಿ ನಿಂತಿರುವುದು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ ದೇವರುಗಳು. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದಲೇ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 24 ಸುವರ್ಣೋತ್ಸವದಲ್ಲೇ ಮುಳುಗುತ್ತದೆ.

ಸದಾಶಿವನಗರ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರಾಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಪಾಲಿಗೆ ಅಣ್ಣಾವ್ರ ಮನೆ ಇರುವ ಪ್ರದೇಶವೆಂದೇ ಪ್ರತೀತಿ. ರಾಜಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳು ಸಂದರ್ಶಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದುದು ಇಲ್ಲೇ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಿತ್ಯವೂ ಅಭಿನಮಾನಿ ದೇವರುಗಳು ಭಕ್ತನ ದರ್ಶನಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ ೨೪ರಂದು ಮಾತ್ರ ಇಡೀ ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಜನಸಾಗರದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಳುಗುಹೋಗಿರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಅಂದು ಭಕ್ತನ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ. ವರನಟ ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್ ಜನ್ಮದಿನ.

ಸಾಮಾನ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಸಮಾರಂಭ. ಕುಟುಂಬದ ಸದಸ್ಯರು, ಆಪ್ತರು, ಸ್ನೇಹಿತರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಿಸುವ ದಿನ. ಆದರೆ, ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ ಕಳೆದ ಐವತ್ತು ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಎನಿಸಲೇ ಇಲ್ಲ. ರಾಜಣ್ಣ ಬೆಳ್ಳಿತೆರೆಗೆ ಕಾಲಿಟ್ಟಂದಿನಿಂದ ಅವರ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬದ ಆಚರಣೆ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಸ್ವತ್ತಾಯಿತು. ವರ್ಷದಿಂದ ವರ್ಷಕ್ಕೆ ಆಚರಣೆಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ ವೃದ್ಧಿಯಾಗುತ್ತಾ ಸಾಗಿತು.

ರಾಜ್ ಸದಾಶಿವನಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಬಂದು ನೆಲಸಿದ ಮೇಲಂತೂ ಜನ್ಮದಿನದ ಆಚರಣೆಗೆ ಹೊಸ ಮೆರುಗು ಬಂದಿತ್ತು. ಆಚರಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸದಾ ಒಂದು ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ ಮುಂದಿರುವ ಉದ್ಯಾನನಗರಿ ಪ್ರತಿ ವರ್ಷದ ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 24ರಂದು ವಿಭಿನ್ನ ಬಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಂಗಾರಗೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿತ್ತು. ಇದು ಬರೀ ಸಂಭ್ರಮಕ್ಕಷ್ಟೇ ಸೀಮಿತವಾಗಿರಲಿಲ್ಲ. ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ ಕಾಳಜಿಯನ್ನು ಹೊಂದಿರುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿರುತ್ತಿತ್ತು.

ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ ದೇವರುಗಳು ಎಂದೇ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳನ್ನು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಗೌರವದಿಂದ ಸಂಬೋಧಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ರಾಜ್, ಅವರೊಂದಿಗೆ ಜನ್ಮದಿನದಂದು ಬೆರೆತು ಹೋಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಹಾರ-ತುರಾಯಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದು, ಕೇಕ್ ಸವಿಯನ್ನು ಇಡೀ ಜನಸಾಗರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಂಚುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು. ರಾಜಣ್ಣನನ್ನು ಅಂದು ನೋಡಿದರೆ ಜನ್ಮ ಪಾವನ ಎಂಬ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಲಕ್ಷಾಂತರ. ದರ್ಶನ ಭಾಗ್ಯದ ಸಾಧನೆಗಾಗಿ ಲಾಠಿ ರುಚಿಯನ್ನೂ ಸವಿದಿರುವ ದೇಹಗಳು ಸಾವಿರಾರು.

ರಾಜ್ ಬಂಗಲೆಯ ಸುತ್ತಮುತ್ತಲಿನ ರಸ್ತೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಜನಸಾಗರದ್ದೇ ಸೊಬಗಾದರೆ, ರಾಜಧಾನಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡಿನ 27 ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲೂ ಜನ್ಮದಿನದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮದ ರೀತಿಗೆ ಕೊನೆಯಿಲ್ಲ. ರಕ್ತದಾನ, ಅನ್ನಸಂತರ್ಪಣೆ, ಬಡವರಿಗೆ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ, ರೋಗಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಹಾಲು-ಹಣ್ಣು ಹಂಚುವ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮಗಳು ರಾಜ್ಯಾದ್ಯಂತ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದವು.

ಹೀಗೆ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬವೆಂದರೆ ಬರೀ ಪಾರ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲ. ಹಾರ-ತೂರಾಯಿಯ ಎಸೆತ, ಕೇಕ್ ಕತ್ತರಿಸಿ ಬಾಯಿ ಚೆಪ್ಪರಿಸುವ ಆಚರಣೆಯಾಗಿರಿಲ್ಲ. ರಾಜಣ್ಣನ ಜನ್ಮದಿನವೆಂದರೆ ಕನ್ನಡ ಚಿತ್ರರಸಿಕರಿಗೆ ದೀಪಾವಳಿಯ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ. ರಾಜ್ ಎಂಬ ದಿವ್ಯಪ್ರಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮಿಂದೇಳುವ ಶುಭದಿನ.

ಇಂದು ಸದಾಶಿವನಗರದ ಬಂಗಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಭ್ರಮವಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೊರಗಡೆ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ ದೇವರುಗಳಿಗೆ ಭಕ್ತನ ದರ್ಶನ ಪಡೆಯುವ ಕಾತರವಿಲ್ಲ. ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಆ ಬಂಗಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡ ಕುವರನಿಲ್ಲ. ವರನಟನ ನಗುಮೊಗದ ನಮನ ಸ್ವೀಕರಿಸಲು ‘ದೇವರುಗಳಿಗೆ’ ಅದೃಷ್ಟವಿಲ್ಲ.

ಆದರೇನಾಯಿತು, ಅಣ್ಣಾ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಚಿರಂಜೀವಿ. ಕೋಟ್ಯಂತರ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳ ಹೃದಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಎಂದೂ ಚಿರಸ್ಥಾಯಿ. ಆಯಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬಗಳನ್ನು ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳಿಗೇ ಸಮರ್ಪಿಸಿದ್ದ ರಾಜಣ್ಣನ ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಬ್ಬ, ಇಂದು, ಎಂದೂ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿಗಳದ್ದೇ. ಕನ್ನಡ ನಾಡಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಅಭಿಮಾನಿ ದೇವರುಗಳಿರುವವರೆಗೂ ರಾಜಣ್ಣದ ಜನ್ಮದಿನ ಸುವರ್ಣೋತ್ಸವವೇ...

(2007 -2009ರಲ್ಲಿ ವಿಜಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದ ಲೇಖನ)

Dr. Rajkumar Birthday- Fans Festival

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

ninade nepu dinvu manadalli (Without you, the memory is in my mind every day)

Every year on 24th April, the people of Karnataka celebrate the festival. It was his favorite Rajanna's birthday. It is not a celebration of a family but a day of celebration for five crore Kannadigas. Fate has played a hand in this celebration since last year. Standing on it are the fan gods. That's why April 24 is immersed in the Golden Jubilee.

Sadashivnagar is believed to be the home of Annavra for Kannada movie fans. Fans are interviewing Rajanna here. Here the appreciative gods were always waiting for the devotee's darshan. Only on April 24, the entire area would have been submerged in a sea of people. Because that day is the devotee's birthday. Groom Dr. Rajkumar's birthday.

Usually a birthday is a private ceremony. A day to celebrate with family members, relatives and friends. However, Rajkumar's birthday has never been private in the past fifty years. Ever since Rajanna stepped on the silver screen, his birthday celebrations have become the property of fans. Year by year the excitement of the celebration increased.

Even after Raj came to Sadashivnagar, the birthday celebrations got a new glow. Always one step ahead in the celebration, Udyannagari was beautified in a different way on 24th April every year. It was not just a celebration. It was a program with social concern.

Raj, who used to address his fans as fan gods with utmost respect, used to mingle with them on birthdays. In garlands of fans, Mindu used to share the taste of cake to the entire crowd. If you see Rajanna then, the number of fans called Janma Pawan is millions. There are thousands of bodies who have tasted the taste of lathi for the achievement of darshan bhagya.

There is no end to the birthday celebrations in the 27 districts of Kannada, including the capital, if the roads around Raj Bungalow are crowded. Blood donation, food donation, treatment for the poor, distribution of milk and fruit to the sick were held across the state.

Thus a birthday is not just a party. Garland-throwing, cake-cutting and lip-smacking is not the ritual. Rajanna's birthday is a Diwali celebration for Kannada film lovers. An auspicious day that shines in the splendor of Raj.

Today there is no celebration in Sadashivnagar bungalow. Outside, the worshiping gods are not eager to get the darshan of the devotee. Because there is no Kannada kuvara in that bungalow. The 'gods' are not lucky enough to accept the groom's smiling nod.

Whatever happened, Anna was never immortal. Forever in the hearts of millions of fans. Rajanna's birthday, who had dedicated most of his birthdays to his fans, today is always his fans' birthday. As long as there are fan gods in Kannada, Rajanna's birthday is a golden celebration...

(Article published in Vijaya Karnataka in 2009)