Politicians of all persuasions perform poojas and rituals, make huge offerings during election time. They also flock to astrologers and soothsayers of all kinds, and it was no different this time.
Leaders like Deve Gowda, B S Yeddyurappa, S M Krishna and even those who profess to be socialists and atheists to seek solace, advice and watch out for rahu kala right from the day of filing of nominations till polling day. Some are so scared they even change the direction of the electronic voting machines. Politicians also worry about the right way to get their finger inked. City Express asked politicians and astrologers what they had done this season, and this what they said.
Postmortem
A Congress leader claimed the party was not tense about the results, and was not going after any gurus or astrologers. “With our leaders campaigning in the Kannada-speaking areas of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah planning to campaign in Varanasi and Gujarat, the candidates are keeping their fingers crossed. In fact, hectic discussions are on to postmortem the voting patterns at the booth level in all constituencies. We are hoping to get at least 14-16 seats,” he said.
Leaders from the three main political parties , their astrologer visits done, are relaxing at their homes, or at resorts, spas, and health farms. Some have gone abroad.
Friends EVERYWHERE
“A few leaders have come, met me and have been keen to know their political fate, “ says noted astrologer S K Jain. “I have friends in all the three parties and on and off, they consult me whether it is about performing a marriage or anything else. It is natural for them to worry, although the confidence is there. For some, it was a question of getting tickets. Most political leaders have consulted me but one aspect that I would like to stress here is, it is difficult to predict the victory of any particular individual as one needs to get the horoscope of all the main contestants. Without this, how will we know who is running a good time?”
Another well-known astrologer H N Satyananda Naik from Bhadravathi who was very close to Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar and performed all havans and homas at his house says, “Till polling, every other day, leaders used to call and meet me but now since their political fate is sealed in the ballot machines, they have forgotten us.”
A Modi wave?
Having friends in all the three political parties, S K Jain did not reveal the names of leaders who had sought his help. “There is a Modi wave which will definitely affect the fortunes of many candidates in many states. In the 2009 elections, my predictions came true. with some being unlucky to lose by a few votes. Overall, unless we see the opponents’ astrological chart, we can’t make a calculation,” he told City Express.
On the other hand, speaking on Yeddyurappa’s chances, Satyananda says, “As it is, they are bright as he has taken up lot of initiatives in this district. He is God fearing and spent money like water, after all, it is his maryade prashne. I have performed Ganpathi homa for his success and also given a vigraha as he could not find time to attend the ritual. Although, it is a straight fight between the two, fortune favors him. In fact, 15 days before polling, both Geetha and Shivrajkumar came to meet me to seek blessings because of my association with the thespian. The sympathy factor is there as she is Bangarappa’s daughter and daughter-in-law of Rajkumar but unfortunately has no identity of her own. Therefore, my reading is: his stars are bright,” he stresses.
What is the hurry?
On the whole, as a contestant remarked, “Some of us are going to bite the dust while for some aging candidates, it may be the last elections but if we have to face failure, let it come slowly, what is the hurry?