BENGALURU: Sarvagnanagar constituency is grabbing attention mainly because it is represented by Home Minister K J George in the Assembly.
There is pressure on George to retain the wards which the party had won in the last election, if not win a new ward. Congress has fielded sitting corporator Irshad Begum from Nagawara against BJP’s Umme Kouser. In Kacharakanahalli, Padmanabha Reddy is contesting from BJP and he is facing a tough challenge from J Ashok Reddy of Congress.
Social worker Amit Negli, son of former MLC Ivan Nigli who is contesting as an independent from Banaswadi, is giving a serious fight to political parties. In 2010, the Congress had won four out of eight seats, BJP three and JD(S) one. But BJP increased its tally by roping in JD(S) heavyweight corporator N Padmanabha Reddy into its fold.
Given the fact that this is the Home Minister’s constituency, one would have expected acceptable levels of civic amenities and infrastructure. But unfortunately it is not the case.
For example, Banaswadi has strong resident welfare associations, and the home minister’s office too is located on Banaswadi Main Road. Yet, people bemoan that garbage disposal is woeful, illegal parking is common and law and order situation is worsening.
“The law and order problem has worsened due to foreign students here,” said D Rajashekhar, executive president, North East Residents’ Welfare Association.
This area had made headlines after a few houses were demolished as part of the Revenue Department’s drive for eviction of encroachers from government land. As a result, BDA site allotees live in fear of losing their homes though the government has assured them that there would be no more demolitions. Nevertheless, people here remain worried, and this may well become a major poll issue in Banaswadi.
Residents of Maruthisevanagar are awaiting the implementation of a new road project that connects Maruthisevanagar, Banaswadi and Kammanhalli.
The project needed Railways’ clearance as part of it falls near its land. Though Railways have given the nod, the BBMP’s laidback attitude is delaying the project.
“The (existing) flyover adds to the traffic bottleneck. Even the home minister who commutes via this flyover gets stuck in traffic during peak hours,” said N Venkatesh, president, RWA, Maruthisevanagar.
Ever since the BDA decided to take up flyover construction at Hennur Main Road in Kacharkanahalli, the residents are having a miserable time as the roads have been damaged. K P Shammanna from the locality says, “BDA offered `3,800 per sq foot, but on the other side of the area where the flyover has to end, the agency is willing to pay over `9,000. We demand decent compensation or an alternative site.”
Boycott Threat: Suhail Khan, a resident of Kammanahalli, says the area has over 2,000 people belonging to the minority community, and hence the former corporator did not attend to their problems. “We have decided to boycott the election,” says Khan.
ward by ward: the major party candidates and the problems voters think their representative needs to address
