BENGALURU: With less then ten days to file nominations for Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike elections, the Congress, BJP and JD(S) are busy preparing their manifestos and identifying candidates.
The JD(S) has already finalised the names of 100 candidates and the list will be announced soon, said a party leader.
Speaking to Express, R Prakash, former opposition leader in BBMP council, said, “Our state chief H D Kumaraswamy has already approved the names for 100 wards and once the nominations are filed, the campaign will begin in full swing. Our manifesto will be released by the party president on Thursday and by then the decision on rest of the seats would have been taken.”
BJP Forms Expert Committee: Senior BJP leader and former minister S Suresh Kumar said the party has formed a committee to pick the best candidates and come out with a manifesto keeping in mind the future growth of the city. “We have formed three teams that are in touch with urban and civic experts. The teams have studied the situation on solid waste management, traffic, sanitation and all civic issues. Simultaneously, a team is also in touch with party workers who in turn are in the loop with a few resident welfare associations,” said Kumar. By Friday a clear picture will emerge on the manifesto and candidates, he added.
Congress busy with block level meetings: Congress leader and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said the party will highlight all major programmes taken up in the city by the state government to convince voters. “At present the party is busy with block-level meetings. The party’s Election and Screening Committee will bring out the manifesto with a vision for the city. Once this is done the campaign committee will be announced. The meetings at the block level are being done to consider the best candidates from each ward,” said Rao.
Candidate approaches voters: Meanwhile Prakash has approached residents from Moodalapalya ward as part of his unofficial campaign on Sunday morning and tried convincing residents about why they should vote for JD(S) and not the national parties. “I am a known face as I won from the neighbouring ward in the previous election. They say that they have seen my work and are happy,” said Prakash.
Moodalapalya was represented by former mayor and BJP’s N Shanthakumari. Due to a change in the category of reservation for the ward, she will be contesting the polls from Maruthi Mandir.
‘Elect Good Candidates’
Urban expert V Ravichander told Express, “For the last five years BBMP has failed to promote good plans. Problems like sewage disposal, solid waste management, utilities and infrastructure remain. Selecting good candidates is the only option for the development of city.”
Agreeing with Ravichander, traffic expert M N Shreehari said while construction of roads comes under BBMP, the Palike has failed to maintain them. Good candidates with a vision have to be fielded by all the parties, he added.
“It is good that BBMP elections are being held. We hope to see changes for the betterment of the Palike. The husbands of most women councillors used to manage BBMP affairs. Hence proxy candidates should be dusted away. Choose candidates with a background of social activism as they will not have hunger for power and money,” said Kathyayini Chamraj, executive trustee, CIVIC, a citizen’s voluntary organisation.
Minority Leaders Hold Meeting
Bengaluru: Minority community leaders C P Ibrahim, Roshan Baig, Saleem Ahmed, Rahman Khan and Rizwan Ahmed held a meeting at a hotel along with 50 BBMP ticket aspirants from different communities. The agenda of the meeting was to accommodate candidates from the community in different wards and to appeal to all political parties not polarise votes. Roshan Baig said, “Candidates with secular credentials and winnability have to be accommodated.”
(With inputs from Rakesh Talikoti)