Go anywhere in Mahadevapura, you can see the ubiquitous water tankers. Ask anybody about their key demand from the candidates – you will hear, water, water and water.
The election campaign here seems to be a mainly a two-party fight between the reasonably well-known BJP sitting MLA Aravind Limbavali and his Congress rival A C Srinivas. Most candidates are focussing on road shows, but many voters are still not aware of the candidates. It is a tough challenge for candidates to cover the large constituency, especially the apartments and gated communities who do not give permission for campaigners within their complex.
The constituency
Mahadevapura covers Bellandur ward on Outer Ring Road, Challaghatta till Carmelaram railway gate on the east and Marathahalli and Kadugodi (Whitefield area) Mahadevapura assembly seat is reserved as Scheduled Caste.
Mahadevapura constituency includes the following wards, Hudi, Garudachar Palya, Kadugodi, Hagadur, Dodda Nekkundi, Marathahalli, Varthuru and Bellandur. Incidentally other than Dodda Nekkundi with a BJP corporator, all other wards have Congress corporators. The constituency also includes nine villages outside BBMP limits.
With many new residents moving in the last few years, the voter base has gone up from 2.72 lakhs to 3.66 lakhs, even though many residents have had issues in registration. The middle class do have their disconnect with the local government. especially since a large proportion live inside apartments or gated communities, where amenities are provided within the campus. A good portion are tenants too and find it cumbersome to register showing address proofs.
– Rajesh Rao
The population somewhat evenly distributed between apartments and gated communities and the erstwhile villages (around 45 villages became part of the BBMP after the amalgamation)
There is a small proportion of migrant workers. Most may not be registered, but some local leaders have managed to register a bunch of them to consolidate their vote base.
The incumbent MLA and his promises
Aravind Limbavali, the incumbent MLA, won by 13358 votes with a 52 % vote share in the 2008 elections. The first time MLA was absorbed in to the cabinet and held the portfolios of health and higher education. His networth of Rs 1.04 crores declared in 2008 has now increased to Rs 4.68 crores in 2013. He mediated between the city and the villagers in Mandur during the garbage crisis.
– Mukund Kumar
There have been a couple of cases filed by the Lokayukta, one alleging that the MLA favoured DLF builders by recommending to the BBMP to widen the road, and another alleging that the MLA and six others forged documents for candidates to be appointed as lecturers in educational institutions.
Limbavali is perceived as arrogant by many, and has not engaged with the public very often. The Daksh report on MLA performance, gives him a relatively high 6.3 on Traffic Management, 5.9 for sewerage system and 5.4 for restoration of lakes.
Limbavali’s advantage may be the lack of visibility of his opponents. Most candidates started campaigning late and are busy doing roadshows mainly. Limbavali who started early, has had time to visit apartments and address public gatherings
Candidates for the 2013 election
| Candidate Age |
Party- Symbol |
Total Assets/Liabilities & Cases | Details |
| A C SRINIVAS Age:46 |
INC- Hand |
Assets: 86 crores Liabilities:9.9 crores Accused in 1 cases 420, 465, 468, 471, 409, 120(B), CC No – 5641 & 5646/2006 |
acsrinivasa.com A C Srinivas is a long time Congress party member. Born in Chokkanahalli, the 46 year old studied in VV Puram college (1984-89) where he became a student union Leader. He is an active member of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and has held official positions there and at INTUC. In meetings with voters in apartments, Srinivasa claims he is not corrupt. His assets are thanks to his large property holdings. |
| Aravind Limbavali Age:46 |
BJP- Lotus |
Assets:6.2 crores Liabilities:48 lakhs 1 case accused 13(1)(C),13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,P.C.R.No.59/2012,XXIII Addl. City & Civil & Sessions Judge,Bangalore,Dated 15.11.2012,The said Proceedings have been stayed by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka,Banglore vide order dated 10.01.2013 in W.P.No.51795/2012 |
arvindlimbavali.com alimbavali999@gmail.com Dip in Civil Engineering, Social worker No. 6, Renuka Nilaya, 9th cross, Annayappa colony, osa Tippasandra, H.A.L. 3rd Stage, Bangalore 560075 Ph:25290215(R), 23380283 (O), 9844076283, 9980076283 In his speeches, Limbavali claims to have initiated development works worth Rs 1356 crores in the last five years. Limbavali promises to provide drinking water and underground drainage to the villages and areas that are yet to get Cauvery water, rejuvenation of Varthur and Bellandur lakes, new roads from Ecity to BIAL, more flyovers, underpasses and skywalks for pedestrians, and action plan to use 270 acres of reserved civic amenity land. |
| M Manjunatha Age:52 |
BAJP- Battery Torch |
B.A, Government Arts College 1985 Spent 15 years as a constable. Social worker Ph: 9945468767 No. 54, Kadugodi Plantation, Bangalore – 560067 |
|
| Mayur Patel Age:31 |
SRC Ceiling Fan |
Assets: 2.8 lakhs | Kannada film actor, son of producer Madan Patel. Ph: 9945518518 No. 7/31, 2nd Main Road, A K Colony, Dommalur Layout, Bangalore – 560071 |
| P. Muniraja Age: 40 |
IND- Auto- Rickshaw |
Ph: 9880804327 No. 233/1, Ramakrishnappa Garden, Halu Bhavi Road, Varthur, Bangalore – 560087 |
|
| H. Muniyappa Age:47 |
KJP- Coconut |
Assets: 64 lakhs Liabilities:3 lakhs
|
Business Ph: 9980423444 No. 244, Kasavanahalli, Bhovi Colony, Carmelaram Post, Varthur Hobli, Bangalore – 560036 Ph: 9980423444 |
| Govardhan N 38 |
JD(S)- A Lady Farmer Carrying Paddy On Her Head |
Assets: 1.3 cr Liabilities:1.5 lakhs
|
Social worker, Post graduate Ph: 9343789812 No. 66/6, Nallurahalli Village, Whitefield Post, Bangalore – 560066 Ph: 9343789812 |
| N.Venkatesh 42 |
BSP- Elephant |
Ph:9902069493 Sorahunase, Varthur Hobli, Varthur Post, Bangalore-560082 |
|
| Nagesh T 38 |
IND- Sewing Machine |
Nageshthippaiah@gmail.com Ph: 9341229837 No. 12, Nallurahalli, Whitefield Post, Bangalore – 560066 |
|
| R L Srinivas 28 |
IND- Table Lamp |
Ph: 9740401632 No. 270/168, Rampura, Bidarahalli Hobli, Virgonagar Post, Bangalore – 560049 |
Key Issues
Water is the key issue. Cauvery water reaches a very small proportion of houses, especially since this constituency includes 45 of the 110 villages excluded from Cauvery Stage IV, phase 2.
– Vijayvithal Jagahirdar
Much of Mahadevapura is dependent on borewells. Most apartments and gated communities depend on water supplied by tankers. The last two years has seen water table falling so steeply that even independent houses are forced to buy water. Borewells dug by tanker suppliers have started drying up too, so water is supplied now from villages further outside the city down Sarjapur Road, Hoskote Road, Varthur Road etc. As one drives down Sarjapur Road, one can see the signboards for “land for rent”. This is an euphemism for renting the plot to dig borewells and extract water.
In many apartments, erratic supply of water has increased frustration levels among residents. The last few years have not really seen any elected representative take concrete action in improving the problem. One key reason is said to be the fact that the tanker water suppliers give valuable support to politicians.
Around 45 villages were merged into Greater Bangalore when the area merged with the BBMP. Many say the former villages were relatively better-governed and better-funded.
– Deepa Peck
The area had around 35 odd lakes, but most of these are not in a good shape. Bellandur and Varthur, two of the largest lakes in Bangalore, are extremely polluted. Ten lakes are completely dry, and 15 are heavily polluted, requiring urgent attention to sewage diversion, desiltation and clearing of kaluves. (Source)
Sewerage system is poor. Though most apartments and gated layouts have STPs, other houses and commercial establishments, let out raw sewage into stormwater drains that pollutes lakes and contaminates the meagre groundwater supplies.
– Ramesh Sivaram
Khata issues: Many residences are yet to get BBMP khatas, they were built on revenue land. In case of some older properties, documents were lost when properties were being transferred from village panchayats to CMC and then to BBMP as the jurisdiction changed. Many residents were asked by the BBMP officers to pay huge sums for khatas.
Most corporators and MLA Limbavali have promised to help people when requested in public meetings, but only a few have managed to get Khatas the legal way, without paying bribes.
Most residents are new to the neighbourhood – houses built in the last 5-7 years. Many apartments especially face issues with their builders, who have not fulfilled their promises or followed due promises. There are apartments without Occupancy Certificates and residents want MLAs and corporators to help them resolve this.
In his meeting with Chaithanya Samarpan residents at Kadugodi, A C Srinivasa (INC) displayed finer knowledge of the process. Residents explained to him that both BDA and the local Sheegehalli panchayat had demanded property taxes from the homes in the layout and that the owners association was negotiating with the panchayat. Srinivasa said that each home must first get a Khata from the BDA as a one-time measure and then present that to the panchayat. The panchayat would make an entry in their registers with this and then issue it’s own Khata to the owner, completing the transfer from BDA to the local body.
– JP Singh
Roads: Though most roads within the BBMP limits are relatively decent, a better network of roads as envisaged by the CDP are yet to be built.
Transportation: Main roads are reasonably well-connected by BMTC services but not interior roads. With many well-to-do residents, private transportation clogs the roads. Metro Phase 2 is meant to reach Whitefield, but that is still way in the future.
Public spaces like parks, playgrounds and community halls are a rarity, though the middle class is less affected
Garbage may be a city-wide issue, but here contractors use the many empty plots a convenient dump. Apartments and communities may practice segregation, but find it tough to deal with private or BBMP garbage contractors, who have always picked up only on payment for the past few years, inspite of residents paying BBMP’s garbage cess.
Deepa Peck echoes most resident‘s thoughts, as she observes,”Things have steadily declined over the past few years as the fragile infrastructure cannot take the load of the burgeoning population.”. Will the new MLA take hard decisions required to manage growth in a sustainable way?⊕
Here i feel people should go for 49’0′
because BJP candidate is accused in corruption charges(1 case accused
13(1)(C),13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act,P.C.R.No.59/2012,XXIII Addl. City & Civil & Sessions Judge,Bangalore,Dated 15.11.2012,The said Proceedings have been stayed by the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka,Banglore vide order dated 10.01.2013 in W.P.No.51795/2012)
Congress is accused of 420( Accused in 1 cases
420, 465, 468, 471, 409, 120(B), CC No – 5641 & 5646/2006)
KJP – has become a joke.. Tomorrow they might open a new party if there are any difference in the team.so no point in voting such people
now people should think about the remaining candidates and vote who suits best for them
Who can give better living staandard at the best IT hub in the country. No water, No better sanitation, No wastage disposal management.
I also feel that none of he candidate is worth of getting my vote, why to waste our vote ? If Arvind Limbavalli wants to serve for the benefit and welfare of people, he could have solved atleast one problem to provide CAUVERY WATER which is a NECESSITY of people, 5 yrs. aren’t less time to work for an issue ? Now-a-days everyone wants to get elected because its a GOOD INDUSTRY which gives earnings of more than 4 times as its visible in Limbavalli’s case, they are exempted of paying taxes, so DYNASTIC CANDIDACY is increasing, Instead of wasting our vote we should better go for 49’0′, because none of the candidate is worth serving the people. Why to select CRIMINALS, ACCUSSED,non eligible candidate whose even educational quaification is not known to us.
Both Congress & BJP are mired in cases. Voting others will not yield any clear cur results in the counting as this will lead only to splitting of votes. Better I too would go for 49-O to clearly express that we need better candidates.
Not voting is not an option as this will end up in somebody voting for you & this is our responsibility.