This by-election, ask questions to the ex-MLAs who are back for your vote

by December 2, 2019 Governance
Four assembly constituencies in Bengaluru are going into the bypolls this week. And in three of them, disqualified MLAs are contesting again, albeit from a different party

On December 5th, by-elections will be held in four assembly constituencies in Bengaluru – Yeshwanthpur, KR Puram, Mahalakshmi Layout and Shivajinagar. In the first three of these, disqualified MLAs are returning as candidates, albeit from a different party. Former Congress MLAs S T Somshekar and Basavaraj Byrathi, and former JD(S) MLA K Gopalaiah, are now contesting as BJP candidates.

They are coming back to you one and half years after you elected them. I wish I could tell you what development plan they have for your constituency. But I just couldn’t find anything on it except political statements. Yes, these by-elections are about politics. The BJP needs to win seven of the 15 seats to get a majority in the assembly.

But remember, this election is primarily about you, the voter.

Ask these three candidates – what did they do in the one-and-half years they were your MLA? Last year they came to you on one party’s manifesto, and now they are asking for your vote based on a different party’s manifesto. Ask them why you should trust them again? Do they have a development plan for your constituency? Point to issues in your neighbourhood. Ask them to suggest solutions. Evaluate and then vote.

Find more information on them and other candidates in our by-election page.

Sections:

About Manasi Paresh Kumar

Manasi Paresh Kumar was Engagement Editor for Bengaluru Citizen Matters.
Read more by Manasi Paresh Kumar

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Similar Story

Confusing forms, tight deadlines: Inside the flawed SIR process

by December 1, 2025 Governance
Enumeration deadline extended to Dec 11th; as Chennai voters and BLOs race to wrap up, we give you a lowdown on the process.

In Chennai’s Perumbakkam resettlement site, residents working as domestic workers leave home at 9 am and return only after 6 pm. For them, the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Special Intensive Revision (SIR) seems almost impossible to navigate. A community worker from the area observes that in earlier voter roll verifications, households received a simple part-number booklet. Now, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) set up camps instead of going door-to-door, asking residents to collect the forms themselves. The new form asks for additional details such as parents’ voter IDs, which many residents do not know, she adds. With low literacy levels,…

Continue reading

Similar Story

Accessibility in crisis: Climate disasters expose neglect of persons with disabilities

by November 17, 2025 Governance
Heatwaves and floods in Chennai show how disaster systems and policies fail persons with disabilities, stressing the need for true inclusion.

On a normal day, fatigue is a persistent challenge for Smitha Sadasivan, Senior Adviser at the Disability Rights India Foundation and a person living with Multiple Sclerosis. Yet, it is manageable with rest periods, nutritional supplements, hydration, and some mild activity. But heatwaves worsen her symptoms. "During heatwaves, none of these measures help. Only limited nutrition and hydration offer some relief,” says Smitha. Extreme climate events, such as heatwaves, floods, or cyclones, pose problems for everyone. Yet for people with disabilities, the challenges are far greater, as daily barriers to safety and mobility become worse during such crises. Smitha explains…

Continue reading