Series: Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023

The Merriam Webster dictionary’s definition of the word ‘manifesto’ is “A written statement declaring publicly the intentions, motives, or views of its issuer”. Do the manifestos released by the four main political parties contesting the May 10th Karnataka assembly elections fit that definition? The intentions are somewhat spelt out, the motives are unknown. And its views on issues like decentralisation, of urban governance in particular, finds no mention at all. The tradition of issuing “manifestos” began with the first election in 1952. But those were different and simpler times with one major party, which faced no worthwhile opposition. But today’s…

In early January 2023, with the elections drawing near, citizens across Bengaluru began waking up to their neighbourhood lakes being drained, dug up and desilted in preparation for restoration. The state government had allocated various grants for lake restoration across the city. According to a full page advertisement the government placed in the Deccan Herald, 47 lakes had already been developed under the Nava Nagarothana scheme and 17 were to be developed in 2023 under the Amrutha Nagarothana scheme during the 2022-23 budget. The ad announcement on the development of lakes. Pic: Screenshot of the Deccan Herald ad We previously…

Uday Garudachar made his foray into politics in 2008 in Bihar, where he unsuccessfully contested a Rajya Sabha seat. An established name in the real estate and construction business, Garudachar then shifted his political gaze to his home state of Karnataka; in particular to Bengaluru’s Chickpet assembly constituency. As BJP candidate, he lost the 2013 election to R V Devraj. But managed to win in 2018 and now is once again the BJP candidate in Chickpet. His political career has not been without controversy. In October 2022, Garudachar was sentenced to two months imprisonment, the appeal against which is pending,…

Towards the end of 2016, the massive public campaign against the proposed steel flyover, led by Citizens for Bengaluru along with many other groups, not only stopped the Government from building the flyover but also helped build support for improved and better mass public transport in Bengaluru. Protests against elevated corridor project The dormant demand for suburban train gathered steam with the energetic #ChukuBukuBeku rail yatra and all major parties pledged funds and professed keen interest in the project. It also became a topic of discussion during the 2018 Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Similarly, the campaign to double…

Editor's note: On January 25 2022, the state government put out a full page ad in the Deccan Herald showcasing its achievements in Bengaluru. The ad praised the government’s expenditure of hundreds of crores spent on restoring lakes, building BBMP schools, the much publicised Namma clinics, roads, and various BDA layouts. In the upcoming series, we look at some of these claims and see the reality behind it. On January 25th, the state government claimed in an advertisement that “47 lakes had been developed under the Nava Nagarothana scheme at the cost of 317.25 crores.” Under the Amrutha Nagarothana scheme,…

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its manifesto, on May 1st, for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections. It lists 16 promises. They will provide three free cooking gas cylinders to all BPL families annually; one each during the months of Yugadi, Ganesh Chaturthi, and Deepavali. They will set up an Atal Ahara Kendra in every ward of every municipal corporation in the state to provide affordable, quality and healthy food across the state. They will launch the Poshane scheme through which every BPL household will be provided with half litre Nandini milk every day and 5 kg siri dhanya--through monthly…

Find out how Anekal Assembly Constituency is faring and what has been happening in this constituency. Learn about the incumbent MLA B Shivanna (INC) and other candidates -K P Raju (JDS) and Srinivas C Hullahalli (BJP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? MobilityCitizen engagementConstituency mapCitizen demandsIncumbent MLA: B ShivannaList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: B Shivanna, INCCandidate: Srinivas C Hullahalli, BJPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency Anekal constituency includes Anekal Town, Sarjapura, Attibele, Hebbagodi, Bommasandra, and some panchayats in the taluk. While the constituency is close to Electronics City (which…

Find out how Pulakeshinagar Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about MLA R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, who recently resigned from the Karnataka Legislative Assembly due to being denied a party ticket, and other candidates - AC Srinivasa (INC), BR Bhaskar Prasad (SDPI) and Suresh Rathod (AAP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapCitizen demands Incumbent MLA: R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, former INC MLAWork in the termIn the newsList of candidatesFormer MLA: R Akhanda Srinivas Murthy, BSPCandidate: A C Srinivasa, INCCandidate: BR…

Find out how Vijayanagar Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about the incumbent MLA M Krishnappa (INC) and other candidates, including Ramesh Bellamkonda (AAP), H Raveendra (BJP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapIncumbent MLA: M KrishnappaIn the newsList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: M Krishnappa, INCCandidate: Ramesh Bellamkonda, AAPCandidate: H Ravindra, BJPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency Vijayanagar Constituency is the northernmost area in South Bengaluru. This constituency is surrounded by Mysore Road and Magadi Road, while Chord Road…

Find out how Mahadevapura Assembly Constituency is faring and what the major issues in this constituency are. Learn about the incumbent MLA S Raghu (BJP) and other candidates, including Anand Kumar (INC) and Mohan Dasari (AAP). Table of contentsAbout the constituencyKey issues in the constituencyKey parameters - How does this constituency fare? SchoolingMobilityCitizen engagementHealthConstituency mapCitizen demandsIncumbent MLA: S RaghuWork in the termIn the newsList of candidatesIncumbent MLA: S. Raghu, BJPCandidate: Anand Kumar S, INCCandidate: Mohan Dasari, AAPFull list of candidates  Past elections results About the constituency CV Raman Nagar is a neighbourhood located in the eastern part of Bengaluru. It is at…