M B Maramkal/TNN
Pic: Times of India

Bangalore, May 8: There is a Kannada saying ‘If one tries to pass through a mat, the smarter one will pass through rangoli’. This is happening in Mysore as far as campaigning by parties and candidates is concerned.

The district administration and election machinery headed by the DC, Manivannan, have taken various measures and established control over campaigning. Even election officials have not allowed contestants to erect cut-outs or tie banners in front of their houses.

However, politicians appear to be smarter than officials. They have found a new method. Legal experts who formulated the People’s Representative Act also may not had any inkling of this new-found method of canvassing. Supporters of contestants catch hold of white-skinned cows and paint their bodies with yellow paint and then write the name of the candidate and his symbol, besides exhorting people to vote for that candidate.

In the last four days, the number of such yellow cows here has increased. On Wednesday, at one spot in the city, seven such cows were found resting.

But this gimmick is worrisome for cow owners as the paint used by contestants is synthetic oil paint which is a difficult to remove. Animal welfare board member Rajesh Agrawal alleged that this is a violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act 1960. “Definitely, this amounts to violation of the Act as the synthetic paint will harm the cows and sometimes the skin of the cows itself peels off when they are subjected to cleaning,” he added.

Another board member Mittal said mischievous elements involved in such painting of cows can been arrested and booked under Section 429 of the IPC where punishment is up to five years. “I will write to the RO to book a case against contestants,” he added. Deputy commissioner and district election officer Manivannan said he is initiating action against politicians who have painted cows for violation of PCA Act 1960 and the election code. “Contestants have been strictly advised to take permission for any kind of political display and painting of cows with symbols and names amounts to violation of election code,” he said.