Bangalore: When it comes to declared assets, they are wealthier than their husbands. And now, with less than three weeks to go for election day in Karnataka, the wives of political candidates of Bangalore South more than rise to the occasion, going all out to canvass for their spouses.
Thirty four-year-old Meenakshi Seshadri hardly walks. The engineer with a Masters degree from the US sprints door to door asking Bangalore South to vote for her husband, Congress candidate Krishna Byregowda.
In another locality, Bhargavi Gopinath is talking to rank strangers, canvassing for her high-profile spouse.
"They react to Captain Gopi's name. A smile comes and I can see that people have flown in his airline with Rs 1 ticket, Rs 500 ticket - that smile, that familiarity comes," said Bhargavi.
Tejaswini Ananth Kumar seems to be in comfort zone, her husband having won this seat four times in a row.
Voters say Bangalore South this time has a problem of plenty.
"For a voter like me, it is very confusing. Captain Gopi is a good man, Krishna Byregowda is very educated, and Ananth Kumar is a very good candidate," said Vinay, a college faculty.
Locals say Gen-X politician wives like Meenakshi, wife of Krishna, are easy to approach and refreshingly candid.
Spouses of candidates are lending a feminine touch to the campaign trail. But it is yet to see who among them will be the most effective in getting precious female votes in Bangalore South.