In Karnataka poll season, biggies home in on rented pads

By Amit Kumar

While political parties are fielding candidate lists and trying to soothe disgruntled workers, the upcoming assembly elections have added another chore
to their to-do list: finding rental houses!

On one hand, many politicians believe that operating from a house in the constituency they are contesting from can help build a good rapport with the voters. On the other hand, some are motivated by superstitions. Many believe that a rented house can change their fortune.


Rented houses have proved lucky for many leaders in the past. Take Ramya, the head of social media cell for Congress. In 2013, when Ramya contested the bypolls from Mandya, she had stayed in a rented house, which proved lucky for her as she won and became an MP. Cut to 2018 and here’s where the bigwigs are staying:

Shah in the city

Amit Shah has rented a house in Bengaluru. It is reported to be a six-roomed villa, quite close to the Vidhana Soudha. He is holding a series of meetings with the BJP leaders of the state to monitor the ground situation ahead of the May 12 polls.

Vijyendra rents at Varuna

BY Vijayendra, son of BJP state president and former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa, has shifted his base to Varuna constituency. He is expected to fight against chief minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Dr Yathindra. He has rented a house from local leader Shivakumar, on the outskirts of the Mysuru city, near Varuna He hopes to network with the voters better.

Sriramalu at Reddy’s place

Sriramulu, BJP leader and MP who was named in the BJP’s first list from the Molakalmuru assembly constituency in Chiradurga, is reportedly staying at a house belonging to his friend and former BJP leader Janardhan Reddy. Reddy, who owns two houses in the area, have given both to Sriramulu for conducting his campaign and convening meetings. Sriramulu has been moved out of Bellari for the first time. Members of the Nayaka community dominate in the Chitradurga constituency.

Will it be the voters? Will it be the vaastu? Nobody knows. But many leaders are certainly following suite to rent suitable places to contest the upcoming election.