BENGALURU: With just two days left for the August 22 BBMP elections, public campaigning ended on Wednesday. All parties in the fray took out rallies, slowing down traffic in some areas.
District in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the Congress expects to win at least 100 wards. “I have been part of numerous rallies. Going by what people said, we will come to power,” he said.
He is confident of clear victories in 80 wards. “We expect a close fight between the Congress and the BJP in many places, and a triangular fight with the JD(S) in some places. We hope the Congress wins 25 such seats,” he said.
Senior BJP leaders such as D V Sadananda Gowda, R Ashok, and K S Eshwarappa also hit the streets on Wednesday. The party took out a motorbike rally, with many workers riding without helmets.
The JD(S) also made a last-minute appeal. From Thursday, leaders plan to go on a door-to-door campaign.
Cash Seized Near Temple
Officials confiscated RS 4.49 lakh allegedly meant for distribution to voters near the Ittumadu Anjaneya temple on Wednesday. Police seized a Toyota Innova and two motorbikes in this connection.
Three men affiliated to the BJP were allegedly transporting the cash, and were stopped by JD(S) supporters. The issue led to tension for a while. Among the three accused is a candidate, the daughter-in-law of a former BBMP councillor, a source said.
Three JD(S) workers allegedly assaulted Shashikala for seeking votes for the Congress candidate in Kaveripura ward. They allegedly barged into her house, threatened to kill her, and assaulted her.
At Subramanya Nagar, a JD(S) candidate received a threat call, and a campaign vehicle was damaged. At Padmanabhanagar, BJP and Congress candidates clashed, and a complaint was registered.