Karnataka polls: Why are parties vying for votes of autowallahs?

Political parties in Karnataka are leaving no stone unturned to woo the voters. This time, they are going an extra mile as they are attempting to win the hearts of the auto-rickshaw drivers, among others.

Why they make a good vote bank?

Karnataka has around 7.7 lakh registered autorickshaws as of mid-February, out of which 6 lakh vehicles are still operational, according to a report in Times of India. In Bengaluru alone, there are some 3 lakh registered autorickshaws while 2.2 lakh of them are operational in the city.

It also means there are 8 lakh voters from this community in Karnataka and 4.5 lakh of them are in Bengaluru alone. This makes them a large chunk of voters and the fact has caught the attention of the political parties who are all out to woo this community.

B.V. Raghavendra, who heads the Federation of Karnataka Autorickshaw Driver Unions, reasons out: "When you add families and other dependents such as painters, mechanics and tinkering work personnel, the number is much higher. Political parties are showing interest in us because we are in the spotlight. We have been protesting the government's transport policies and bike taxis."

Modus operandi of wooing autowalahs

Starting with the ruling BJP, the Bommai government has tried to win their hearts by promising them to include their children in the Raitha Vidya Nidhi scheme.

Similarly, former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy has promised Rs 2,000 per month for auto drivers if his party JDS comes to power while State Congress president D.K. Shivakumar has gone a step ahead by riding an autorickshaw as part of his election campaign.

Shivakumar even sported a khakhi dress, generally worn by autowallahs, while attending an event. He claimed that auto drivers are the "charioteers of ordinary people" and they do not differentiate people on the basis of caste and religion.

"By transporting people, they are doing a service. But their pockets are being picked daily by surging fuel prices. Auto drivers are important for us," he said. "Auto drivers are our family. They are doing national service. We will help the ordinary people. I belong to their family," India Today quoted him as saying.

Auto drivers community is very often criticised by the commuters for their rude behaviour in Karnataka and especially in Bengaluru. At the same time, they are often harassed by traffic cops while their pleas fall into deaf ears.

Not surprisingly, no parties have promised them to find solutions to their genuine concerns. Notably, the auto driver unions have been demanding a ban on bike taxis as they "threaten" their livelihood.