ELECTIONS

Dear Dr Manmohan Singh, Last evening, I read a report of your speech at Mysore Road outside Bengaluru. "Congress will give world class infrastructure to Bengaluru: PM", went the headline by the Indo Asian News Service. The report was carried by several news websites including media as far away as the New York Daily News. It went on to quote your reason for this promise: "Because Bengaluru deserves the best", you said. Dr Singh, stop. I cannot speak for all Bangaloreans, but hear me out anyway. I do not want a world class infrastructure for Bengaluru. I want a world…

If you are on Hosur road going towards Electronic city in the evenings and not taking the elevated flyover, chances are you are going to be stuck at the Gaarvebhavipalya junction. The usual sights and sounds of traffic chaos strike you loud and clear. You will also see a bunch of young women balancing plastic pots while waiting for a safe moment to cross the busy junction. These young women cross over the busy and often dangerous highway, from Hongasandra side to Bandepalya to collect water every other day. Water is the biggest concern in sitting MLA Sathish Reddy's backyard…

Yogaiyah V C, 60 is contesting as the Loksatta candidate from Byatarayanapura. After schooling and college in Andhra Pradesh, he served the Indian Air Force for 15 Years, till 1988. After that he worked as Principal, a ALT vocational training college in Bangalore and as a consultant. A member of the initial team ‘Corruption Saaku' in December 2010 and active participant in India Against Corruption Movement in 2011. he toured the countryside, for campaign for a referendum for Jan Lokpal Bill during October 2011. He is now the general secretary of Amrutha Layout RWA and has been working to solve…

Well-spoken, well-read and with previous experience in pushing issues related open governance, solid-waste management and work with the urban poor, Sridhar Pabbisetty,34 from the Loksatta party presents a welcome picture to even the most cynical, and especially to the young and urbane. His knowledge of the history of Hebbal, his keen awareness of its problems stand out, but it's the solutions that he propagates, knowledge of policy, willingness to experiment with technology and commitment to transparency and public participation that really impresses. It remains to be seen what kind of steps will be taken to address the tougher issues of…

On the face of it residents of Jayanagar Assembly constituency have very little to complain. It is one of the city's best planned residential areas, with a bustling central shopping complex, wide roads, plenty of parks and playgrounds. But, take a look closer and you will find that it faces the same problems that haunt rest of the city. The huge influx of people and rampant commercialisation has changed the face of this once-quiet residential neighbourhood. While some parts of the constituency have received adequate care and attention, other parts are yet to get even basic amenities. Apart from Jayanagar,…

A constituency situated in north-east Bangalore, Pulikeshinagar has been reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC's). It has seven wards where the major population is the low and middle income category in some parts like Richards Town. Considering the linguistic and religious diversity in the area, it is not surprising to find that election campaigns are being held in Tamil, Hindi and English apart from Kannada.The constituency which has small commercial establishments in addition to residential neighbourhoods, has a total 13 contestants including three independents. Key issuesMohen S, a techie and resident of S K Garden ward, explained the problems: "Speeding vehicles,…

Hebbal, once considered the northern endpoint of the city, is now the epicentre of its growth, as Bangalore spreads its tentacle-like flyovers in every direction. The last two decades have seen the conversion of what was essentially a cluster of villages, set apart by Hebbal Lake, into one of Bangalore’s busiest and populated suburbs. As Hebbal turned into a gateway for the new airport, driving land prices up, rents and property rates in the heart of the city have rendered it unlivable for a large population. From private gated community projects to IT ‘parks’, Hebbal has witnessed explosive growth without…

Fourteen assembly election candidates from the city have been endorsed by the Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC). B.PAC team includes Biocon Head Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, Chairman of Manipal Global Education Services T V Mohandas Pai, and former IAS officer K Jairaj. The rest of the team includes more corporate honchos, and sportspersons and artists. Candidates have been selected from across political parties - there are five Congress candidates, three from BJP, three from Lok Satta, two from JD(S) and one from KJP. BPAC says that political ideology was not a factor in candidate selection. B.PAC will contribute to the candidates'…

Prof B K Chandrashekhar, MLC and former IT minister, is Congress's candidate for Basavangudi this election. Chandrashekhar, 76, is a retired IIMB professor, and has worked in other universities in India and abroad. He has a post graduation in law from Leeds University, and a doctorate from Oxford University. He is currently one of KPCC's Vice-Presidents. He is also a former Chairman of the Legislative Council.Though the KPCC VP, Chandrashekhar talks less on the party's stand, and more on his personal views. He also positions himself rather as an exception within the party - as part of a minority that…

With over two lakh voters, the traditional neighborhoods of the Mahalakshmi Layout constituency are a hot spot for commercial activities too. Narrow roads and water supply shortage have been the foremost issues left unresolved by the incumbent and earlier elected leaders. Abutting the major localities of Yeshwantpur, Rajajinagar and Malleshwaram, this constituency has grown at a fast pace. There is also an exodus of workers from Peenya Industrial suburbs to the quieter locales of Nandini Layout and Mahalakshmipuram. The constituency consists of seven wards. JDS and Congress have three corporators each along with the lone BJP representative, S Harish from…