BENGALURU: As the countdown to the August 22 BBMP elections begins, parties have begun going on road shows.
They are taking out processions, holding meetings at street corners, and doing everything they can to show off their strength. They have roped in thousands to march along the city’s main streets.
With just 10 days left, star campaigners and senior leaders have already drawn up their schedules. On Thursday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy will participate in a road show at BTM Layout, represented by Reddy.
“Candidates for all eight wards will be part of the show,” Reddy told Express. The event is planned from
4 pm to 8 pm. “It starts from Lakkasandra, next to my house, and then goes through Adugodi, Koramanagala, Ejipura, Venkatapura, Madiwala, and BTM Layout,” he said.
Siddaramaiah will be taken around in an open vehicle. He will also stop at some places to address the public.
Those working in and around Koramanagala and BTM Layout will be affected on their way home.
Glam Visits: The Congress also plans to bring movie stars to add glitter to its campaign. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said Chiranjeevi, Nagma, Khushboo and other actors are expected to visit the city and seek votes for the party.
With movie stars come huge crowds, and traffic is sure to be affected. “The bigger the traffic jam, the bigger we will appear,” a party worker said.
JD(S) spokesman Ramesh Babu said his party was not inviting anyone from outside Karnataka. “We have good campaigners in former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy, and former ministers such as Basavaraj Horatti,” he said.
The BJP is not so keen on rallies. Its vice-president B N Vijay Kumar said the party would go from door to door instead.
On August 14, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu will address citizens at three places, including Vijaynagar, Malleswaram and Shanthinagar.
A senior BJP leader admitted the rallies would affect traffic. “We cannot help it. This is the only way we can show our strength,” he said.
City Police Commissioner N S Megharikh told Express that candidates and parties should take permission from the State Election Commission and the police before taking out rallies.
M A Saleem, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), said traffic diversions would be effected only on instructions from the Police Commissioner.