BBMP polls: AAP not to contest this time

BENGALURU: The Aam Aadmi Party, which spearheaded the anti-corruption movement and came to power in Delhi twice, has failed to gain much ground in the city and has decided to stay out of the BBMP polls. Ironically, the city raised the highest amount of donation for AAP just a few months ago.

AAP State Convener Siddharth Sharma said that Bengaluru will face another election in a few months as Governor Vajubhai Vala has sent the bill on division of the city to President Pranab Mukherjee.

“In this background, our party decries this meaningless and farcical election which is a wasteful expenditure of public money. Aam Aadmi Party, Karnataka will continue to take up and fight for people's issues irrespective of elections.

AAP over the last three months met and interacted with thousands of residents of Bengaluru from various walks of life, through Jana Sabhes, Surveys, etc to draw up a manifesto which is ‘by the people and for the people’ of Bengaluru towards building a Bombaat Bengaluru,” he said.

Elections in the country have largely been fought on religion, caste, money and muscle power, but never on “issues”. The "Common Man Voters' Manifesto" (Jana Samanya Mathadharara Pranalike), on the other hand, will identify issues, problems and priorities of Bengalureans such that the upcoming elections for BBMP can be fought on “issues” of grave concern.

AAP will continue to carry on with its organisation building across the state and look to offer the people of Karnataka an honest alternative to the existing traditional political parties in the future elections, he said.

Congress to slam BJP for bad governance

The ruling Congress party held a meeting at its office and is planning to come out with a chargesheet highlighting the maladministration and scams under the BJP rule at the Palike. District in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy said that the party has appointed around 10 spokespersons to speak to the media about the party’s preparation and strategies for the BBMP polls.

Give up your vehicles: Election Commissionto dept heads

The State Election Commission has directed the departmental heads of Central government, state government, Central and state undertakings, and para-state bodies to surrender their government vehicles for BBMP election purposes. In a press statement on Tuesday, it said. “In view of the ensuing BBMP General Elections-2015, vehicles are needed for smooth conduct of the election process.

Therefore, it is considered necessary to procure vehicles owned or being used by the Central, State government departments, Central/State government undertakings and other para-state bodies along with the drivers. Therefore, all the departmental heads are informed to surrender the vehicles immediately.”

No Voters’ ID card? You can still vote

Voters who have lost their Voters’ ID card need not worry . With the help of other IDs like Aadhar card or Driving License, one can still cast one’s vote. According to the guidelines of the State Election Commission, a citizen must file an FIR about a lost voter ID and keep a copy of the FIR. On obtaining an application form for a duplicate card (Form 002), a citizen should submit the form along with the FIR copy and any document that will certify the proof of his/her identity (driving license, passport, etc).

Voters can then submit the documents at the Taluk office. The status of the duplicate Voter’s ID card will be uploaded online and the expected time of the card delivery will be mentioned.