Information Technology city Bengaluru is going to witness a crucial polls for supremacy. More than 7 million voters will decide the fate of ruling BJP, Congress and JD(S) in the Bruhut Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections on Saturday.
Even though it is no referendum (as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah claims) on the ruling Congress Government in the State it is a crucial battle for survival for Siddaramaiah who is playing the Backward Classes politics at the hilt. The BJP who was in power for the first time wants to regain its position to defeat the ruling dispensation. However JD(S) is expected to play a major political role in the entire drama enacted spending huge sums.
Traffic congestion, bad roads, garbage pile up add to the woes of the people and the election for Bengaluru Corporation is crucial for the political parties to solve these bugging issues. Most of the constituencies are facing triangular contests and the corporation election is crucial for both the BJP and the Congress. The Congress with its internal strife and turbulences this election is an litmus test for Siddaramaiah. The BJP has to keep its position intact to prove a point that Modi wave is still relevant in the political game plan.
The authorities, including Karnataka State Election Commission, Police and Government are geared up to ensure free and fair polling from 7 am to 5 pm in 6,759 booths. About 20,000 police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order.
For the first time the introduction of 50 per cent seats reserved for women in the total 198 wards, more than 98 women will be elected to the BBMP .The political fortune of 1,120 candidates in the fray will be sealed on Saturday. A BJP candidate from Hongasandra Ward has already been elected unanimously as there were no nominations left after withdrawal date.
Of the total 73,88,226 voters, 35,10,828 were women, 38,76,244 men and 1,184 others are eligible to vote. There are 3,37,230 new voters added to the list.
According to State Election Commissioner Officer PN Srinivasachary in 2011 election 44 per cent polling was registered and confident of increase in the per centage as steps were taken to create awareness by the Government, various voluntary organisations and NGOs.
Ruling Congress and main Opposition BJP, which held majority in the earlier Council, are engaged in the poll battle, with JDS going to play spoilsport in many constituencies. The two national parties have fielded candidates in all the Wards, while Janata Dal (Secular) contesting in 138 Wards. There are also 399 Independent candidates, including a very few rebels, in the fray.
BJP, which was in power for the last nine years, is leaving no stone unturned in its attempt to retain, while Congress which came to power at the State in 2013 after a gap of 9 years, is banking on implementation of various welfare schemes, development works taken up among others after coming to power. JD(S) is also not lagging behind to woo the voters in favour of its candidates.
For the first time the SEC is introducing, on a pilot basis, a tablet based election monitoring system to curb election malpractice and bogus voting. The system was successfully introduced during last Assembly elections held in the Rajasthan and Haryana States. The SEC has decided to implement the new technology in 20 sensitive/hypersensitive polling stations in Mahadevapura Assembly constituency.
However, there is no provision for NOTA in the EVMs to the disappointment of Voters who wanted to select none of the above candidates. The counting will be held on August 26.