BANGALORE: The efforts by the Bellary unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to use pigeons to woo voters has set the cat among the pigeons of State unit of Janata Dal (Secular), which is leaving no stone unturned to humble the saffron party in the Lok Sabha elections. The first-time BJP candidate from the Bellary Reserved constituency J Shanti is reportedly using about 1,000 white pigeons donated by her well wishers to woo the voters. Shanthi, who is the sister of Health Minister Sreeramulu, also enjoys the backing of the powerful Reddy brothers of Bellary.

These white pigeons, which have the symbols of BJP on their forehead and also in a locket tied to their claws, are said to be trained well in carrying a message to voters. When they are released from their cage, they land in a group thus inviting the attention of people. The Bellary unit of BJP is also said to have hired magicians to attract the voters.

These and other tactics adopted by BJP to reach out the voters such as sending SMS or hiring ventriloquists etc, became the butt of attack at the media conference addressed by JD(S) Spokesman Y S V Datta on Thursday. Terming them as an act of “sneaking under the carpet”, Datta wanted both the Election Commission as well as police to curb such propaganda tactics aimed at influencing the “gullible” voters and add the expenditure so incurred to the account of BJP candidates. “I am told that these well-trained pigeons fly to places identified to seek votes. Precious materials are sent with these trained birds, which would delivered them to pre-determined voters,” Datta said.

Regarding use of magicians to showcase the achievements of BJP government, Datta expressed apprehensions that the gullible and uneducated voters in rural areas may be misled by the magicians.

Naidu's remarks are 'pure entertainment' “When big parties like the Congress and the BJP are still struggling hard to finalise their candidates’ list, why are you bothered about the candidates’ list of smaller entities like us. ” This was the reaction of Datta to a query from media persons on Thursday. On the BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu’s comments on the Third Front as a “parking lot”, he remarked: “The leader who cares for the state from which he has been nominated as Rajya Sabha member only during elections, is giving us some free entertainment."

Stop Hindu meets: JD(S) to EC

The JD(S) has filed a complaint before the Election Commission questioning the permission granted to an apolitical pro-Hindu group to hold Hindu Samajotsavas. In the wake of a Hindu Samajotsava held in Mangalore a few days ago, the JD(S) and Congress are understood to have complained that the meeting was being used to polarise the electorate and any similar meetings that are planned to be held in other places be disallowed.

NO ANIMAL S, BIRDS: Responding to media reports on a candidate using pigeons as a campaign tool, an official said “No animal may be used for electioneering; it is not allowed.”