Bengaluru: India’s IT capital Bengaluru votes on Saturday to elect a new city corporation known as BBMP. Over 71 lakh people are eligible to vote in this election which is being dubbed as a city ‘referendum’ on chief minister Siddaramaiah. The ruling Congress and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party are engaged in a fierce electoral battle to capture the BBMP. Earlier it was held by the BJP. The third player the JDS is hoping for a hung civic body.
According to the officials around 20,000 policemen including home guards have been deployed to maintain law and order during the voting. 73,88,256 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise to elect representatives for 197 wards. The total number of wards is 198. Bharati Ramachandra, a BJP candidate, was declared elected unanimously from Hongasandra ward in Bommanahalli assembly segment. Congress candidate Maheshwari's nomination papers were rejected by the returning officer for submitting a false caste certificate.
NS Megharik, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, said that the police have identified 1,700 polling booths as highly sensitive, 1,990 as sensitive and 2,863 as normal polling booths in the city. "We will depute one head police constable and one police constable at each of the highly sensitive polling booths, two police constables and one home guard at each sensitive polling booth and one police constable at each of the normal polling booths," he said.
Polling timing
The polling will start at 7 AM and conclude at 5 PM. Re-polling, if necessary, will be held on August 24 between 7 AM and 5 PM. The counting of votes will begin at 8 AM on August 25.
Campaign
The Congress campaign was led by Siddaramaiah. He toured the city and requsted the voters to give a chance to Congress. He has attacked the BJP for its alleged corruption and misrule in the last eight years. The BJP campaign was led by former deputy chief minister and its Bengaluru strongman R Ashoka. The JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy led the campaign of his party.
The ruling Congress has five ministers from Bengaluru city alone. Both the Cabinet ministers in the BJP-led Centre are also from Bengaluru city. Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has also fielded candidates in 30 wards for the first time. The AAP is not contesting in the election. Even though the JDS has sought its support, the AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal decided to remain neutral.
Congress defeat may weaken the position of Siddaramaiah. A win is expected to cement his position. Pre-poll surveys conducted by three local TV news channels have predicted Congress victory. They are estimating that the Congress may get 100-104 seats, just 1-5 seats more than the halfway mark.
Major political parties have allegedly spent hundreds of crores on the campaign. Civic issues dominate the polls.
BBMP Election – Facts & Figures
Total Number of Wards – 198
50% Seats Reserved for Women
Election to be held for 197 Wards. BJP won a ward unopposed.
Total Number of Voters - 73,88,256 (7.3 Million Voters)
New Voters - 3,37,230
EVMs will be used. No provision for NOTA.
Voting Timing – 7 AM to 5 PM.
Total Number of Candidates - 1,120 candidates
Total Number of Polling Stations - 6,759 booths with 32,176 officials taking part.
This will include 7,981 presiding officers, an equal number of assistant presiding officers and 16,214 polling officers. There will also be seven IAS officers on special duty as observers.
Three helplines will also be set up for receiving complaints -- 08022374740, 08022224748, 08022221188.
Major political parties in the fray – Congress, BJP and JDS. AIMIM is also contesting in 30 Wards. Loksatta Party is also in the fray in some Wards.
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