BBMP polls: Congress in election mode, race for tickets hots up

Bengaluru: Two days after the BBMP trifurcation bill reached the President for his assent, the Congress party in the state is gearing up to conduct the elections scheduled for August 22. As on Thursday, the party received 800 applications from citizens who have showed interest to contest from Congress ticket. According to the party calendar of events, it will welcome applications till July 31.

Not only has the party given deadline to shortlist candidates before the first week of August, it has also given an ultimatum to all the leaders to win the elections at any cost. Speaking about the party’s preparedness, District-in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy stressed that winning was the criteria for the party and 28 ministers were appointed as observers for every Assembly constituency.

He also said that fresh candidates were bound to get tickets because of the reservation matrix. “We have convened a meeting on Saturday to discuss the prospects of short listed candidates. On August 2, we will hold a district-level meeting to prepare the selected list of candidates. By August 6, candidates for all the wards will be identified,” Reddy said. Meanwhile, the party will also hold party bearers’ meeting at KPCC office on Friday.

Although Governor Vajubhai Vala is yet to sign the Bill, it may be recalled that the legislature had passed the Karnataka City Corporations (Amendment) Bill 2015 amid protests.