The political volatility of the last four years makes many feel that this election in Karnataka is somewhat exceptional as the main issue that concerns voters is the promise of a stable government.
However, contrary to popular perception the Deccan Herald-CNN-IBN-CSDS pre-poll survey reveals that one overarching issue that concerns a substantial proportion of voters in deciding whom to voter for is the lack of basic amenities and infrastructure.
This is followed by concern for the condition of farmers, and even though governmental stability is on agenda, it comes third.
The Karnataka voter has anxieties regarding issues such as corruption, unemployment and inflation, but these issues are overshadowed by the clear demand for fulfilling basic needs such as supply of drinking water, electricity and roads. Price rise is an issue, but there is not sign that it has begun to dominate voters’ imagination.
Overall 38 per cent of the respondents in the survey said that while making their political choice, lack of basic amenities and infrastructure is the issue that comes to their mind.
This feeling is stronger among rural voters (40 per cent) compared to their urban counterparts (33 per cent).
The survey indicates that there is a strong regional pattern in the demand for basic needs such as supply of drinking water, electricity and roads.
This concern is strongest in the Hyderabad Karnataka (44 per cent), followed by Mumbai Karnataka and Southern Karnataka (33 per cent).
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In the Central Karnataka region 37 per cent voters said that basic amenities and infrastructure is their concern in making their political choice. Interestingly, Bangalore is way below the average as only 27 per cent think of poor infrastructure as an issue, and compared to overall mood of the state, a substantially higher proportion of voters have concerns over corruption (13 per cent) and unemployment (12 per cent).
Central Karnataka looks similar to Bangalore in so far as only 23 per cent voters have infrastructure on their mind, while a substantial 15 per cent have said that corruption is the main issue that they think about while deciding whom to voter for.
The second most important issue that dominates the agenda of the Karnataka voter is the condition of farmers.
Karnataka is a state that has witnessed strong farmers’ movements and instances of farmers’ suicides in the last decade, and it comes as no surprise that 21 per cent of voters feel that the condition of farmers is the main issue that influence their political choice while voting.
Quite understandably this agenda is top on priority for those who work in the agricultural sector (34 per cent) and the rural voters (21 per cent). Nearly 36 per cent of the respondents come from the agricultural sector, and this is a considerably large vote bank.
Both Congress and BJP have been betting on their promise to provide a stable government in Karnataka.
But this is not an issue that concerns many, and only 11 per cent of Karnataka voters feel that governmental instability is an issue that merits attention while deciding whom to vote for.
This is clearly an issue of the elite and upwardly mobile sections of the electorate, who are educated, have a high household income and a great deal of exposure to the news media.
This is far from being an issue of the masses, and is directly correlated to the luxury of thinking beyond basic needs.
However, the most interesting finding about this issue is that 26 per cent JD (S) voters said that farmers’ condition is the issue that concerns them most in deciding whom to voter for. This is considerably higher when compared to the voters of the two national parties.
The question on the main issue that influences political choice was asked as a structured question in which the respondents had choose from a fixed list of issues.
The same question was also asked as an open-ended question, which is to say that the respondents could say whatever concerned them. The responses were similar, and the main point that came up was that people want their basic needs to met, and in this election lack of basic amenities will certainly be the issue that rides the agenda of the Karnataka voter.
Methodology used for Karnataka pre–poll survey
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