ELECTIONS

P C Mohan campaigning with Arvind Limbavali in an open vehicle. Pic: Nikita Malusare North-east of Bengaluru has some semi-urban areas or villages — Seegehalli, Kannamangala and Avalahalli among others — which don’t attract anyone, let alone politicians, on an ordinary day. However, P C Mohan was seen campaigning here along with Aravind Limbavali, on April 7th, 2014. The two leaders of BJP were seen doing a roadshow in an open vehicle that advertised Narendra Modi on one side and P C Mohan on the other. Citizen Matters caught up with the roadshow at Seegehalli. Three Innovas and a Swift,…

I hit the campaign trail this morning to see for myself what voters feel. Earlier this week, the idea popped in my head that I should step beyond the smug cocktail circuit to revisit the grassroots election campaign. I have not done this for over a decade, and I feel that I have to observe first hand these elections that have thrown up so many vexatious questions that no party is able to answer. I am also curious to see if campaigning has changed now – what with a new breed of candidates, and more questioning constituents. AAP volunteers at…

The General Elections 2014 have begun. In the first phase reports suggest 80 - 85% polling in Tripura and 75% voter turnout in Assam. Voter turnout in phase two, in the other four North Eastern states of Arunachal, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland began on a low note till noon. But picked up by end of day with Nagaland and Manipur recording around 80% and Arunachal a 55% The national BJP Manifesto and the JD(S) manifesto for Bangalore city were released this week. The CPI (M), Congress and AAP termed aspects of the BJP manifesto as communal and the Congress went…

The election madness hasn’t perturbed her one bit. She seems to have seen it all, right from the time she started extensively campaigning for numerous elections post her marriage to politician Dr Jeevraj Alva, when she was no more than 16 years old! Being a danseuse, businesswoman, socialite and homemaker, she did not fear adding more to her juggling act. Today, Nandini Alva, all of 52, sounds very articulate when we speak to her about her entry into politics. She has been chosen to contest as a JD(S) candidate from Bangalore Central for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Nandini Alva…

Here goes the list of growth of Assets of candidates for Bangalore Urban constituencies, who have contested earlier.  The list is a mere compilation from their affidavits. Ananthkumar   Movable Asset (Rs) Immovable Asset (Rs)  Liability (Rs)  Total Asset (Rs) 2009 99,82,432 68,85,163 0 1,68,67,595 2014 1,23,59,969 3,60,41,192 28,83,233 4,84,01,161     P C Mohan   Movable Asset (Rs) Immovable Asset (Rs) Liability (Rs) Total Asset (Rs) 2009 (LS Election) 3,83,88,000 1,84,41,000 3,28,87,000 5,37,29.000 2013 (Assembly Election) 18,15,81,650 12,31,02,400 17,69,36,948 30,46,84,050 2014 (LS Election) 26,45,16,699 21,12,79,600 26,11,11,284 47,57,96,299   C  Narayanaswamy   Movable Asset (Rs) Immovable Asset (Rs) Liability (Rs)…

The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan premises in the heart of Bengaluru looked like a fortress on Sunday, April 6 2014. While cops were on vigil and the main gate was closed to unauthorised people, a team of volunteers was busy verifying the entrants with the RSVP list. After the Bangalore South candidate meet fiasco which was hijacked by language debate, Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC) became extra-cautious on who should be let in. Even the seating was properly arranged, with volunteers guiding people where to sit depending upon who they were. This did not go well with all. Some TV reporters…

These days, news reports in Bengaluru regularly talk of some good work done by or statements from the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka. He is getting excellent coverage for right reasons. He has been strict and vigilant about malpractices in light of electoral code of conduct. He is acting boldly, befitting his position. I admire this. In Bangalore alone 8.08 lakh new voters were enrolled in about 45 days, since February 1. This is laudable. On National Voters Day (25 Jan 2014) President of India honoured him for achieving the highest Elector to Population ratio. When we bask in these…

Abdul Azeem, the JD(S) State General Secretary, served as a police officer for more than 25 years, before he retired voluntarily and joined politics. He was quoted as saying he joined politics to do more to serve the people. Brief profile Name: Abdul Azeem Party: JD(S) Education: LL.B, M A Economics   Profession: Retired government employee, agriculturist Age: 61 Assets: Rs 8,10,30,126 (2013) Contact Details: Address: No. 3, 2nd F Main, 60 Feet Road, Bhoopasandra EXNT. Sanjaynagar, Bangalore - 560094Email ID: contact@abdulazeem.in / azeem91152@yahoo.comWebsite: http://abdulazeem.in/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/abdulazeem.official Phone: 91 9632366186 / 9901987858 / 23410843 The journey Born in Dhanagur Village of Mandya District,…

The youngest candidate of all the Bangalore MP candidates, Rizwan Arshad, 34 years, is geared up for the big battle. After waiting for so long, Citizen Matters was able to catch him in an event scheduled in Press Club of Bangalore to launch his website, on April 4, 2014. The launch of the website It was not a big event. Rizwan who wore casual cotton-white shirt and pant, was accompanied by Infrastructure Minister Roshan Baig, his son and other party members. Rizwan acknowledged the work of two youths, Sujay and Parikshit who designed the website http://rizwanarshad.in/. He said that this…

Janatha Dal (S) candidate from Bangalore Central Nandini Alva, is known to Bangaloreans for her different facets - as the wife of Late Jeevaraj Alva, danseuse, beautician noted for her makeovers and the artiste who brought Bangalore Habba to the city. The fact that she campaigned extensively with her late husband, knows the drill and is known in political circles seems to be the reason she has made her political debut. Nandini Alva campaigning with her son-in-law, film star Vivek Oberoy. Pic courtesy: nandinialva.com Brief Profile Name: Nandini Alva Party: JD (S) Profession: Danseuse and Beautician   Age: 52 Education:…