Polls out of reach for many

BANGALORE: Amid reports of early pre-term elections to the state Assembly, this legislator, like many other incumbent legislators, is in two minds over seeking re-election.In an tete-a-tete with Express, four-time MLA and former health minister  Dr A B Malaka Reddy expressed apprehension at contesting another election. “The prohibitive cost of fighting elections is a major deterrent. Given that money and muscle power play a dominant role in present-day elections, I dare not to seek re-election,” Reddy, a political leader hailing from the Lingayat community, said.He averred that the measures taken by the Election Commission are not enough to curb the influence of money and muscle power on elections. “The common man cannot dream of contesting elections and will be forcibly excluded from the democratic process,” he added. He said the cost of contesting election has increased manifold during the BJP rule in Karnataka. He suggested the introduction of state funding for election expenditure. Reddy represents Yadgir Assembly seat, which was carved out of Gulbarga, and won the seat in 2008.