Big fight losers

One of the things people say when you complain about politics being dirty is, “But good people don’t get into politics.” This time, some real good people did try. Bangalore South had two highly educated, idealistic men trying to break in. Neither techie-turned-politician Krishna Byre Gowda nor budget airline guru Capt Gopinath could. Defeat is sobering, so let's take a look at what has become of Karnataka’s prominent losers.

CAPT GOPINATH: The Air Deccan founder bagged just 16,000-odd votes while the winner got a staggering 4.37 lakh. Gopi is now eyeing mayoral polls, but the Bangalore voter doesn’t seem all that excited by what big biz achievers can pull off in politics. Gopi’s loss also proves that media heroes invariably turn out to be political zeroes. A MiD DAY reporter stepped into his house as the results were being announced; not a single supporter was in sight. But all that shouldn’t take away from his spirit: he wants to be in public life, and his intentions are not selfish. Janardhana Swamy, a software engineer who quit his Sun Microsystems job and came down from the US, contested on a BJP ticket from Chitradurga and won. Perhaps there’s a lesson in that victory for Gopi: You need both good credentials and a strong party to win an election.

S BANGARAPPA: Four former Karnataka chief ministers are packing their bags to Delhi this time, but the fifth parliamentary aspirant has lost to chief minister B S Yeddyurappa’s novice son Raghavendra. Like Dev Anand in the movies, Bangarappa in politics believes he’s young, and for ever. People may humour them, but just can’t take their dude act seriously. Lesson for Bangarappa: It’s not enough to know all your voters by name. They now expect something for themselves before they decide to punch the EVM button next to your name.

AMBAREESH: This movie star didn’t lift a finger for his constituency through five years when he was MP, yet acted pricey when the Congress offered him a ticket again from Mandya. He was a central minister, but never went to office a single day. He loves to smoke, drink, gamble, and generally show off; over the years, voters have indulged him, but this time they also started saying he’s good at little else. Mandya’s hearty electorate has shoved him aside, and put an end to his swagger.

JAFFER SHARIEF: The former railway minister and veteran parliamentarian has lost from Bangalore North. All three constituencies in Bangalore have gone the BJP way, dashing Congress-friendly media predictions. The 80-plus leader tried to play the sympathy card, telling voters this was his last election. Voters said, “So what?” That line just doesn’t seem to work these days.

H T SANGLIANA: A folk hero, Sangliana quit the BJP to join the Congress a couple of months before the elections. With three Kannada films celebrating his exploits as a policeman, he was considered a sure bet. The grin on the faces of his critics will grow wider: they’re convinced he’s an oddball whose gimmicks don't work any more.

JANARDANA POOJARY: Best known for his loan melas, during which he twisted banks’ arms and gave away their money. A straightforward if eccentric politician, he was preparing to be a cabinet minister. A nameless BJP candidate has put paid to his dreams.