Giving credit where it's laddu

Former minister has a dilemma ahead of him: How to distribute prasad from Tirupati to his voters with the poll code of conduct barring him from doing so

Former minister has a dilemma ahead of him: How to distribute prasad from Tirupati to his voters with the poll code of conduct barring him from doing so

Would a laddu be enough compensation for your vote? Former minister S N Krishnaiah Setty seems to think so. Setty, who is renowned for his 'religious philanthropy', however, could not have chosen a worse time to sweeten the voters' mood, what with the election code of conduct barring him from taking credit for all the bonhomie he wishes to spread around.


Kuch meetha ho jaaye: Setty spent over Rs 20 lakh on two lakh laddus.
Pic/Ramesh HS

That reputation precedes a person can well be exemplified here, when Setty was accused of 'cheating' devotees earlier by passing off local municipal water as Ganga Jal. Does it come as a surprise then that he had to resign as minister of muzarai and housing last year on charges of corruption? Setty is now the chairman of Muzarai Board.

Not allowed
Setty distributes laddus at government temples on the occasion of Vaikuntha Ekadashi every year. This time, it has fallen on December 17, which means that the election code of conduct bars him for taking any credit. Turning down his request, the state election commission has written to the Muzarai commissioner, allowing distribution of the luddus on behalf of muzarai department, while insisting nobody must take the credit.

However, some two lakh laddus are ready and Setty has already spent over Rs 20 lakh on them.
"No private person including a politician is allowed to do such things," said G R Chikmat, state election commissioner. "The Muzarai department can distribute them for free, but it must not give credit to anyone and we have asked the commissioner to ensure this."

B G Nandakumar, muzaai commissioner, said, "We are yet to receive communication from the election commission. But we will obey the order." He said the department had not spent money on the laddus and they would be given away to devotees. Even if Setty gives them away, he would not be given credit.

"I am not doing it for fame. I did request the commission to allow me to distribute the laddus in my name, at least in Bangalore, where there are no polls," said Setty.

Last year Setty had planned to distribute over 50 lakh laddus at the cost of Rs 1crore. He reduced the numbers to 2 lakh as he was sacked just before the festival.

Setty's misadventures

>>He is known for his antics that have always been attached to religious sentiments. >>He distributed laddus in his constituency during last assembly polls, saying they were from Thirupathi and had brought the prasadam from the holy shrine for them. >>Later, it was revealed that they were prepared locally. Setty started distributing Ganga Jal, at a temple during the Maha Shivaraatri festival, two years ago. It was later found out that the water was local too. >>During his tenure as minister, Setty ordered daily pooja in all government temples in the name of the Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. He withdrew the order after the CM reprimanded him for the ridiculous order.