ELECTIONS

BTM Layout Assembly Constituency is home to some of the city's coveted addresses as well as some its worst slums. The constituency has seen a sea change with the IT boom: apart from being home to many IT companies, it also connects Electronic City with the rest of Bangalore. If swanky malls and restaurants are one part of this story, choked roads and unplanned development are the other part. The constituency was one of the seven carved out the erstwhile Uttarahalli constituency before the 2008 assembly elections. Koramangala, BTM Layout, Adugodi, Madivala, Lakkasandara and Ejipura are some of the areas…

Why did you enter politics, what's the motive?Since my college days I have been actively involved in social service and community work. The motive is to expand my area of social service and community work.Do you have any figures in politics / life whom you want to emulate?Smt. Indira Gandhi, for her contribution to our country in providing social equality, concern for the poor, and development plans under the twenty-point programme. Shivaram B K. Pic courtesy: bkshivaram.org What is your ambition?I see myself as people-friendly, being able to listen across cross-sections of society, and overall, to prove my leadership skills…

Malleshwaram is a peaceful old locality in the city, the central part of which is filled with age-old buildings like IISc, CV Raman’s house, MLA School and many old houses. Central Malleshwaram has BJP and KJP state offices. Among popular personalities in the constituency are Sudharani (film actress), Ananth Nag (film actor) and Vimala Rangachar (president of Karnataka Chitrakala Parishat). This strong-hold of Janata Dal had catapulted the BJP to MLA’s chair, following the wave of sympathy for the Yeddyurappa-led BJP soon after Kumaraswamy burned bridges with the BJP and state went to polls again.   Incumbent MLA and his…

The leaders we choose are reflective of the kind of society we are. Hemachandra Sagar is an example of one those Bangaloreans who boast of being a local and well-known in Bangalore. However he did not have much to say on the difference he has made as a man in power in the last five years. But it is us who voted for him; I wonder if his flip attitude towards his responsibilities and his arrogance tells us a bit about ourselves too. Here are the excerpts from the interview: What would you highlight as works done by you in your…

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…

What politicians and political parties think of us urban middle/upper middle class peopleThey look at us as apathetic at best and cynical at worst. So they don't feel the need to engage with us because we won't be a part of any political base that they can build on.What we think of politicians and political partiesIneffective at best and corrupt at worst. It doesn't matter who comes to power because nothing will change for the good so what's the point of voting and helping someone amass wealth and commit atrocities.How does this status quo work for usThis status quo doesn't…

Urban development minister in Bangarappa's cabinet, K J George is a veteran Congressman in the state. He has managed to retain his MLA seat so far, despite the controversies regarding him getting a G-category site allotted and getting land from Vyaalikaval Housing Society. Here are the excerpts of the interview. What are the problems faced by your constituency?We have done a lot of things in last five years. Drinking water problem was there. We have put a lot of borewells and drinking water schemes. I also put five water tanks. Now fortunately Cauvery stage-IV phase-II has started and we are…

Its 8:30 am and Doctor MRV Prasad is on his rounds - but this time it's a different kind of rounds. Dr Prasad is contesting the MLA elections from the Padmanabhanagar constituency on a JD (S) ticket. He is constantly going door-to-door asking people to vote for him. The campaign is a low-key affair, with only a handful of supporters walking with Prasad. Dr Prasad has been a physician in Thyagarajanagar for the last 40 years. A man on scooter, on spotting Dr Prasad, stops and tells him that he went by his nursing home but there was no one…

The Deputy Chief Electoral Officer P T Kulkarni has confirmed that people whose names are the voters' list this month can vote on 5 May, even if they have not received the voter ID card. This comes as a relief to the citizens who have registered and found their names on the roll, but do not know whether they will be turned down at booths for want of EPIC cards. "Those who don't have EPIC can vote with any of the 21 documents that we have specified, as was the case in the last elections also. Instructions have been issued…

The election slogan of the Congress for the coming elections is ‘Sakkappa Saku', JD(S) is calling upon the citizens to "Be the Change". Likewise, each party has its own slogan. At the end of the day, when all the dance and drama is over, the elected representatives from each of these parties, cutting across party lines and ideology will have only one mantra... the mantra of how to double their personal assets in five years (provided the government stands). Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also…