BENGALURU: Nine days before the polls, the BJP has every reason to smile. Party member Bharathi Ramachandra is the sole candidate in Hongasandra ward in Bommanahalli constituency.
While Congress candidate K Maheshwari’s nomination papers were rejected for not submitting required documents to the returning officer, JD(S) did not field its candidate. Two independent candidates withdrew their nominations on Thursday.
Sources in the BJP said that Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy convinced the independents to withdraw their nominations to ensure his party’s victory.
When Express tried to call Bharathi, her husband answered.
Bharathi, an SSLC pass-out, told Express that she is a first-time councillor. “My husband Ramachandra is an active BJP worker. Before Bommanahalli was added to the Bengaluru city corporation limits, he was twice elected member of the municipality,” she said.
Prior to her entry into the political scene, Bharathi was a homemaker. The couple have children — one is a techie and the other is studying MBA. “They are grown up now, so I can concentrate on the ward. My priority will be cleanliness,” she said.
Hongasandra ward was reserved for women from Backward Class-A category. Sukanda from BJP was the ward’s councillor in the previous term. Earlier, ward reservation was for Backward Class-B (women).
It may be recalled that on Monday, BJP members had lodged a complaint with the State Election Commission that Maheshwari, who was supposed to submit the required documents on Monday, failed to do so. They demanded that her nomination be rejected, which is what the returning officer did on Wednesday.
Former deputy chief minister R Ashok, who is also in charge of the BBMP polls, said, “It is an indication of the party’s victory in the BBMP election.”