Ground Report: Behind toys and greenery, Channapatna tells sordid tales of apathy as bypoll turns up heat

Muggegowda, a farmer, ran his hand over his much-receded hairline as he talked politics under a thickly foliaged banyan tree at Avverahalli. A small crowd has gathered under the tree that provided the men shelter from the sun.

The crowd seemed to be split over the previous MLA, HD Kumaraswamy, who resigned after his election to the Lok Sabha. While the seniors criticised him calmly, the youngsters animatedly supported the JD(S) leader.

Issues, one after another, came up for discussion, as did the promises the candidates had made. Channapatna’s progress, too, was discussed threadbare.

Muggegowda has now fallen silent with a blank look. The octogenarian appeared as if he was not seeing or hearing anything. A few minutes later, he went for a refreshing cold drink.

Water woes

Water was a worry for the farmer. Away from the heated discussion that would go on till the polling on 13 November, Muggegowda opened up to South First.

“We don’t have adequate water facilities for both drinking and irrigation. It has been six months since the RO plant was damaged and no one bothered to fix it,” he pursed his lips as if to suppress the anger welling up in him.

He remained silent for a few seconds before continuing. “When CP Yogeshwar was the MLA, the lakes were filled to the brim. After he lost, none bothered to fill them. The lake in our village has been remaining dry for the past three years,” his sunken eyes narrowed further.

Though Muggegowda was soft-spoken, the contempt in his voice was clear. “We are depending on borewells. Kumaraswamy did not utter a word during his tenure as the MLA. As the rains are also less in the region, we might lose crops this year as well,” the farmer in him was mighty worried.

“Both candidates seek votes. We will decide on whom to support on the polling day,” Muggegowda dismayed over Kumaraswamy, who represented the segment from 2018 to 2024.

Related: ‘Dynast’ Nikhil Kumaraswamy to take on ‘turncoat’ Yogeshwar

Town of Toys

Channapatna, known as the Town of Toys, has a rich cultural and historical significance.

Now part of Bengaluru South, Channapatna is renowned for its traditional toy-making industry, dating back to the 18th century during the reign of Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore.

The town’s toys are famous for their handcrafted intricate designs, bright, non-toxic colours, use of natural dyes, and exceptional durability. These toys are an integral part of India’s cultural heritage and they received the prestigious Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2005.

Channapatna’s geography is equally impressive, with over 150 lakes scattered across the region. These lakes not only enhance the beauty of the town but also play a crucial role in supporting agriculture.

The primary occupations of the people in Channapatna are agriculture and toy manufacturing. Farmers rely heavily on the lakes for irrigating their paddy, mulberries, and coconut. Channapatna is also known for its mulberry silk.

Despite its cultural richness and natural beauty, Channapatna faces challenges in terms of infrastructure. Higher education facilities are limited, with many students travelling to nearby Ramanagara or Bengaluru for higher studies after pre-university.

Healthcare is similarly limited. The town has a taluk hospital, and residents often travel to Bengaluru for specialised medical care.

Although the city is renowned for its toy manufacturing, it does not provide large-scale employment opportunities for the youth. Moreover, the town lacks industries that can offer substantial employment. The youth are largely dependent on neighbouring districts, including Bengaluru, for employment.

Related: The fate of Channapatna’s wooden wonders awaits a rattling comeback

Fight for survival

Small-scale toy manufacturers are struggling to keep their craft alive amid financial and infrastructural challenges. The burden of GST on raw materials, diminishing profit margins, and fierce competition from inexpensive, mass-produced imports have been bogging them down.

Many toymakers, who have dedicated their lives to the craft, are disheartened by the lack of tangible government support, despite promises of export aid and improved business opportunities. They also claimed that the new generation is not keen on learning the craft, considering its “bleak” future.

Moon Star Toys Factory proprietor Sadath Khan is a fourth-generation toymaker. “Channapatna toys are recognised worldwide because they are handcrafted, of high quality, and use natural, non-toxic dyes, along with self-cultivated wood,” he explained to South First.

“Though the state government has assured us support for exports and business expansion, these promises remain mostly in speeches and on paper. There have been no substantial initiatives to revive the Channapatna toy industry,” he said.

Toymakers like Khan are seeking the scrapping of GST on raw materials. “Currently, GST rates of 5%, 12%, and 18% are imposed on essential raw materials like wood and paint, making it difficult for small-scale manufacturers to sustain the business,” he explained the predicament of the manufacturers.

“The high GST rates have cut into our profit margins drastically over recent years. There are no incentives, no loan facilities at subsidised interest rates, and no policies or schemes designed to uplift the toy industry,” he added. He also pointed out the poor state of roads and lack of development in Channapatna.

Related: Another twist in CP Yogeshwara’s political odyssey

The China headache

Aneesh Beg, a resident of Kalyan Nagar, started making toys when he was in Class 7. The small-scale toy manufacturer recalled the glorious past.

“I’m 44 now. Back then, the business thrived, allowing us to build our own home from the earnings. Today, things have deteriorated so badly that I struggle to make ends meet,” he told South First.

“Buyer interest and export demand have dropped significantly,” Beg’s voice, too, dropped. “When we try to sell our products to the Cauvery Emporium, it refuses to purchase the toys. It’s heartbreaking.”

He claimed that earning even ₹500 a day has become challenging. “I don’t know any other trade but toy manufacturing, which I have been doing for over 30 years. Sadly, no elected representatives have shown any concern for our problems.”

Artist Mohammed Sayeed has been painting toys for 35 years. He pointed at a challenge from beyond the seas.

“Business has been declining for the past five to six years, largely due to the competition from Chinese products. We hand-paint toys and sell them for ₹50, while similar products from China sell for ₹20. They cost less because they use machinery for production, while we rely on traditional handcrafting methods,” he said.

Sayeed then spoke about the government support that China provides. “In China, the government provides extensive support to the manufacturers. But here, our leaders and officials only make empty promises, primarily benefiting large players while ignoring small artisans like us,” he said while hoping for government schemes and loan facilities to sustain his livelihood.

The man lacquers the toys before painting them in bright colours. He hoped that the government would also provide a lacquer to make his future bright.

Related: Clout, caste may play major role in Karnataka bypolls

Political equations

Channapatna was the pocket borough of CP Yogeshwara for 15 years before Kumaraswamy threw him a challenge in 2018.

With Union Minister for Steel and Heavy Industries Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy contesting for the first time from the Channapatna Assembly seat, Yogeshwara is now aiming to reclaim his dominance in the upcoming bypolls. Both candidates belong to the influential Vokkaliga community.

The Assembly bypoll was necessitated after sitting Kumaraswamy resigned from the Assembly after winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat.

Since 1999, Channapatna has witnessed eight Assembly polls including two by-elections in 2009 and 2011. Of these eight polls, Yogeshwar won a record five times in 1999, 2003, 2008, 2011 (bypolls) and 2013.

In every Assembly election Yogeshwara contested, he managed to gross an average of 35 percent votes in Channapatna. Interestingly, he has contested as Congress, BJP and Samajwadi Party candidates in his nearly three-decade-long political career.

Yogeshwar, who was with the BJP, switched allegiance to the Congress on 23 October, hours after the NDA decided to field Nikhil Kumaraswamy. Subsequently, the Congress fielded him from Channapatna.

Nikhil has unsuccessfully contested two elections – the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Mandya and the 2023 Assembly election from Ramanagara. He is confident of registering his maiden electoral victory.

In the 2023 Assembly polls, Kumaraswamy defeated BJP’s Yogeshwara by a margin of over 15,000 votes.

Possible split in Vokkaliga votes

Political commentator Natraj Gowda said the Vokkaliga votes would split in the upcoming bypoll.

“This election will witness a fight between two Vokkaliga leaders. Vokkaliga votes are set to divide in the elections. It is advantageous for the Congress as the ruling party also has the support of Muslims, Backward Classes, SCs and STs,” he said.

“Muslims are unhappy with Kumaraswamy for not just joining hands with the BJP but targeting the community on several occasions. Minority votes are largely expected to swing back to Congress. SC and ST votes are likely to split but not on a large scale,” Gowda predicted.

“Nikhil’s only advantage is that his grandfather and former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and father Kumaraswamy’s development works carried out across the constituency. The sympathy factor might work to some extent for Nikhil as he had lost two consecutive polls,” he opined.

“The JD(S) is approaching the election emotionally, with Nikhil shedding tears during the rally and Kumaraswamy claiming that God decided to field him. We have to wait and watch how much this approach will yield them the desired result,” he further said.

“Importantly, despite Yogeshwara’s association with the BJP for over a decade, the saffron cadre does not have a strong base in Channapatna. It will be a close fight between Yogeshwar and Nikhil. However, Yogeshwara has the edge,” Gowda added.

The caste factor

Vokkaligas and Muslims are the dominant communities in Channapatna. They have a combined vote of over 1.30 lakh, which accounts for just over half of the electorate.

Other than Vokkaligas and Muslims, Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are the other dominant communities in the Channapatna Assembly segment.

Vokkaligas reportedly have over 1.10 lakh votes, Muslims 50,000, and SCs over 35,000. Other communities, including Lingayats, hold the remaining votes.

“People here vote based on caste, works done by the candidates, and image of the candidate,” Gowda said.

“The results of the previous polls clearly show that people do not vote based on a party,” he said, adding that money barely plays a role in Channapatna to swing election results.

There are over 2.30 lakh voters in the Channapatna Assembly constituency. Among them over 1.08 lakh are men and over 1.18 lakh voters are women.

(Edited by Majnu Babu).