Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Apr 7: As election is round the corner, the daily wage earners from north Karnataka villages who had come to coastal Karnataka and surrounding areas seeking jobs, have the chance to earn handsomely at their own villages. Therefore, a large number of families have gone back to their native places, creating shortage of workers for contractors who totally depend on these workers.

These workers were involved with construction and other works including maintenance works and seasonal agricultural operations here. They know that compared to coastal belt of Karnataka, election time offers a chance for them to make good money at their native places in north Karnataka. There is huge demand for workers to form a group and undertake door to door campaigning for political parties there. Those who campaign for political parties reportedly get between Rs 800 and 1,000 per day in addition to free food.

It is said that people also earn money by taking part in election meetings for which their leader pays them. Sometimes the candidates arrange parties where food and liquor flow. It is said that even people get money from different parties for promising to cast their votes in their favour. So retaining their voter rights in those villages, and staying put there during the days prior to the election pays them rich dividends, it is learnt.

Contractors recollect that there was acute shortage of workers during the assembly election last year, and the same phenomenon has returned to haunt them now.