Bengaluru: Though the Saturday’s BBMP election recorded a voter turnout of 50 per cent, higher than 43 per cent recorded in 2010, the poll pundits were disappointed as they had hoped that voters would turn out in larger numbers to express their disappointment against the city administration’s poor handling of civic issues.
The exit polls conducted by a some organisations have reveal that Congress party has an edge over other, however, none of the surveys have predicted clear majority to any single party. Most of them are predicting a hung BBMP council.
High drama prevailed at Yelahanka Upanagara ward when MLA S.R. Vishwanath roughed up JD (S) party workers on the ground that they had come from other area to influence voters. After heated arguments between JD (S) and BJP workers, police intervened and told the people to leave immediately.
Chaotic situation prevailed at a polling booth at Mangammanapalya, where the police had to resort to mild caning to quell a mob. Party workers from BJP and Congress were quarrel over issue of gift cheques.
Even though election code of conduct prohibits ferrying of voters to the polling booths, many candidates had arranged special vehicles for the purpose. They justified it by saying it was being done on humanitarian grounds.
On Saturday, cabs and autos, arranged by candidates, were found near most polling booths. Candidates ferried voters, especially senior citizens, free of cost.
Anant Nag, Actor
I vote regularly. It is a shameful situation that most of the Bengalureans have failed to cast their vote, and in choosing the right candidate. I think that it is high time mandatory voting is enforced in the country
Sri Murali, Actor
Looking at the voting percentage in BBMP election, it is definitely a dangerous situation. As voters we should not provide an opportunity for corrupt politicians to come to power, by not casting the vote
Rakshitha Prem, Actor
It is a disappointing scenario. I, personally feel bad about it. It is the most important right as a citizen. Instead of cribbing about political system, one has to choose the best among the candidates
Pooja Gandhi, Actor
I voted for the first time and I feel very proud as a citizen. It is our right and everyone should exercise their franchise by choosing better candidates for
a better Bengaluru
Prof T.G. Sitharam, CiSTUP, IISc
The turnout was quite low. People are either not concerned anymore or don’t know the candidates. If they have boycotted the elections because of bad roads, then they could have cast their vote under NOTA. Though NOTA was not included in this election, someone could have filed a PIL and got it included. I feel voting should be made compulsory
Voters’ names go missing
Names of several voters were missing from the electoral rolls in Rajajinagar, Jayanagar, Koramangala, K.R. Puram, Uttarahalli and Mahalakshmi Layout. The worst hit was Rajajinagar, where over 300 names were missing.
Mr R. Sampath Kumar, a senior citizen who went to vote at ward number 151, Koramangala at 7.30 am, was disappointed as his name was missing from the list. “It is 12 now, and I am still waiting here assuming that they will find my name and I will be able to cast my vote.” His neighbour Sreenivasan S.R. said, “We have been voting in every election. They should not make senior citizens like us wait. Some political party workers asked us to wait, so we did. But I don’t think my friend will be able to vote.”
When Ms Rukmini Menon and Ms Sunitha Gopi Nair P. arrived at the polling centre in Koramangala, they were asked to go to Adugodi. Ms Nair said, “I have been living in Koramangala for the last ten years, and it is very sad that now we have to go to Adugodi to cast our vote. We are not aware of the candidates there so what is the point in voting? The corporator from there is not going to solve our problems in Koramangala!”
A polling officer said, “There has been a lot of confusion this time. The number of voters in the list has come down and on top of that many names are missing.” The scene was no different in other parts of the city. Ms Tulsiamma from K.R. Puram, Mr Sagairaj from Anandpura, K.R. Puram and many others could not find their names in the list.
Residents protest, refuse to vote
More than 600 voters of Veeranapalya in Jnanabharathi ward boycotted the elections till afternoon on Saturday, protesting against lack of basic infrastructure in the ward. They complained that none of the political parties and the candidates had taken interest in addressing their concerns.
They alleged that even the former corporator was not interested in solving their problems. They said that the ward did not have proper drinking water facilities, sanitary pipelines and good roads.
The residents decided not to vote till political leaders promised them solutions.
They had erected a pandal and staged protest since Saturday morning. Later in the day, however, candidates from all political parties made a queue to convince the voters. After meeting the candidates, the residents decided to vote.
