HOSUR: It may sound funny but it’s true. Top political leaders do not dare to enter Hosur, which comes under the Krishnagiri parliamentary constituency, for campaigning or any other functions. They believe that a visit to the town could lead to them losing the elections, or their political careers.
Skeptics may call it a false belief, but Hosur’s history of political derailment speaks for itself and provides enough evidence for this interesting theory.
The myth probably started when MGR, who had never tasted defeat in his political carrier, visited Hosur in 1980. Unbelievably, the Centre dismissed his government that same year. J Jayalalitha, who led a faction of the AIADMK and fought assembly elections in 1989 with the ‘Seval symbol’, visited Hosur but her party lost bagging only 27 seats. Since then Jayalalitha has never returned. Even during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, she campaigned in nearby Thalli but avoided Hosur.
Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi also visited Hosur in 1989, and unfortunately the Congress leader was assassinated in 1991. The BJP too, lost power at the centre when its top-rung leader Venkiah Naidu canvassed in Hosur in the 2004 elections.
Politicians may argue that it is not necessary to visit Hosur but the town can hardly be called an insignificant stop. Hosur ranks first among Tier II cities in yielding revenue to the state exchequer through its industrial production. More than 1,000 industrial units including corporate majors like Ashok Leyland, TVS, Titan, Hindustan Motors and Taneja are located here. In fact, Hosur provides more revenue to the State than the latter spend on the entire Krishnagiri district every financial year. Moreover, geographically, Hosur is located at the centre of Krishnagiri district and this should make it an ideal place to hold public meetings.
This time too, no top-rung political leaders have visited Hosur. AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, who is traveling by air this time, landed directly in Krishnagiri, avoiding Hosur. Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s health may also not permit him to visit. So far, only DMDK chief Vijayakanth has visited Hosur and its effect on his campaign remains to be seen.
