Karnataka polls: It's caught in a time warp, development a mirage

If the rapidity of Bangalore's pace of change often leaves one amazed, it's exactly the opposite in Bijapur. It's like time has stood still in this north Karnataka town some decades ago. Prem Herlagi, 30, who is into multiple small businesses and who has lived here all his life, can't remember anything that has changed barring some increase in traffic and an improvement in the supply of drinking water. The town is filthy, stray pigs are everywhere. The joke in the town is that but for the pigs, which feast on the filth, the town would have been even more filthy. Most buildings are old, most roads are in miserable condition. Thanks to the Kannada Sahitya Sammelana in February though, the main MG Road and a few others were relaid. There is not a single lifestyle brand advertising itself, let alone have an exclusive store. The Gol Gumbaz is the one magnificent bright spot in this town, but even that could do with better upkeep.Development has completely passed by Bijapur, once the capital of the Adil Shahi dynasty and one of India's great centres of culture, commerce, education and learning in the second half of the 16th century and the 17th century. And it does not look like things will change much in the near future because none who is vying for the Bijapur assembly seat that we talked to appears to have a larger vision for the town. They talk of improving roads, drainage, streetlights, drinking water, housing for the poor, giving ration cards. But how would they do that without encouraging industry and generating income? They look for an answer only when specifically asked the question.Appasaheb Pattanashetti, the sitting BJP MLA who has once again been given the ticket and who was a textile minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government, said the inadequate supply of water in Bijapur was a constraint for the textile industry but he would work to improve that. Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, the JD(S) candidate, said a denim garments project was abandoned because the sitting MLA raised pollution concerns. He said the project would have created employment for 4,500 people. Yatnal said tourism was also a big opportunity. He said he would encourage industry and personally supervise progress of projects. Yatnal was briefly the Union minister of state for textiles and later Railways in the Vajpayee government. He was then with the BJP and joined JD(S) in 2010. During the Railways stint, he converted the meter gauge lines in Bijapur to broad gauge ones, thus improving connectivity. Ordinary citizens we spoke to seemed inclined to vote for the JD(S) this time. "Most youths who last time voted for BJP are going with Yatnal now," said Rachanna Kendhuli, 32, who is in the government's judicial department. Prem Herlagi too will vote for JD(S). "Yatnal at least has some vision about industry and job creation," he said. The condition in the neighbouring constituency of Basavana Bagewadi, the birthplace of statesman, philosopher and social reformer Basava, is no better. Sunanda, 36, is selling grapes, squatting on the main town square ground, in the scorching 40 degrees heat, without a shade above her head. "The politicians see us every day sitting like this, but they don't bother to provide any shelter," she says. Shankarava, 76, has an old tattered umbrella over her head. She has been selling curds to passing bus travellers for about 40 years now. "We are sitting on PWD land. Why can't the government construct shops for us here," she asks.An NTPC power project is coming up in the area, but the sitting BJP MLA S K Bellubbi has made it clear he does not want any more land taken away from farmers for industry. Rival Congress candidate Shivanand Patil, who won in 1999 and 2004 but lost in 2008, accuses NTPC of not meeting conditions related to hiring locals and establishing educational institutions.Patil, who is in the grape and wine business and who appears to have the edge in the election this time, is focused on better irrigation, drinking water and drainage projects. His daughter Samyukta, a law student in Bangalore, is helping with the campaign and she says her focus is on toilets, especially for women.