Bengaluru: State Election Commissioner Sreenivasachari held a review meeting with BBMP commissioner G. Kumar Naik on Wednesday to ensure that the BBMP was fully prepared for the polls.
According to State Election Commission (SEC) officials, 71.22 lakh voters are eligible to cast vote in the local body election, which is likely to be conducted on July 26.
The SEC said that 6,733 polling stations were identified in the 198 wards and 9,290 electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used for the polls, along with 11,660 ballot units. SEC Secretary H. Honnamba said that over 32,000 staff will be engaged on election duty.
Speaking about the enrollment to voters list, she informed that citizens who did not have voter ID cards can apply till the last day of the nomination. “Soon after we announce the calendar of events for the poll, the BBMP commissioner will call for nominations. Starting from that day till the eighth day, which is the last day of nomination, citizens will be eligible to enroll for voters’ ID.” she said.The polls results are expected to be announced on July 29. As the new council must be formed before August 5, the State Election Commission too may not further delay the procedure and announce the calendar of events on Thursday.
Preparation for BBMP polls
Last week, the party held a meeting of city MLAs, MPs, corporators and office bearers of the city unit. During the meeting, party instructed its cadre to get ready for BBMP polls. “We are conducting regular ‘bytak’ regarding preparations for BBMP polls. During regular ‘bytaks,’ instructions will be given to the cadre about poll preparation”, said senior leader of the party. Meanwhile, the party has also instructed the cadre that during outreach programme, new members should be persuaded to vote for BJP in BBMP elections. In Bengaluru, party has added over 20 lakh members to its rolls, a feat which would help the party to a large extent, the leader added.
Government to set up B1 centres in all wards: CM
Bengaluru: Stressing that there is a demand for more Bengaluru One centres in the city, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the state government aims to set up these centres in all the 198 wards. During an event at the CM’s residence on Wednesday, Mr Siddaramaiah handed over 50 BBMP buildings to e-governance department to increase the number of Bengaluru One centres.
He said, “The citizens can avail of as many as 111 services from Bengaluru One centres. The centres are receiving an overwhelming response from citizens.” The e-Governance department, which was handed over 50 buildings, will immediately set up B-One centres, he said. Administrator T.M Vijay Bhaskar said, “In the past, the BBMP has allotted 47 buildings for B-One centres. With the additional 50 buildings today, we have handed over 97 buildings for setting up of Bengaluru One centres. Citizens can get their voters’ ID, Aadhaar cards, pay property tax, water bills, electric bills and telephone bills, and avail all essential services under one roof.”
BBMP Commissioner G. Kumar Naik said that since the government aims to set up B-One centers in every ward, the BBMP will make all efforts to set up more centres in wards which do not have Bengaluru-One centers.
BJP has tough time ahead
n Unlike BBMP elections in 2010, the state unit of BJP could find it tough to fight the ruling Congress in forthcoming elections to the city civic body. Under the leadership of Chief Minister B.S.Yeddyurappa, the party was voted to power for the first time in 2010. In 2015, however, former corporators of BJP and MLAs have to depend upon their luck and performance in their respective wards and constituencies.
The state unit has little say in the affairs of the city unit though the party has been trying its best to take control of affairs of the city unit. Union Fertilizers and Chemicals minister Ananth Kumar, former home minister R. Ashok and their team call the shots in the city unit, and have not allowed state unit leaders to take control of the affairs since one decade, sources in the party told Deccan Chronicle.
Though the state unit instructed the city unit to arrange functions, it has to get nod of city unit leaders. Even in selecting the candidates for previous BBMP polls and selecting candidates for Assembly constituencies comes under BBMP limit, Mr Ananth Kumar and Mr Ashok have the last word, according to a former corporator of the party. With regard to preparations for BBMP polls, the state unit cannot dictate terms to city unit.
Mr Ananth Kumar and his team have played vital role in selecting office bearers of city unit and appointment of city unit chief Subba Narasimha. A senior leader of the state unit tried to push his candidate to city unit president’s post, but his efforts went in vain. Even the Sangh Parivar has also no control over affairs of the city unit, affairs, sources added.
