Governance

Gain in-depth understanding of civic administration, policy implementation and public policy. Find articles on the intricacies of urban governance, learn more about challenges and successes in local government operations, effectiveness of municipal bodies, and how it all affects the lives of citizens. Understand election processes and get critical information on choices and options. Be informed about active citizen engagement with governing authorities, and how residents can influence policy and hold them accountable.

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…

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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…

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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,…

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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…

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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:…

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Ruth Manorama. Pic courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/ruthmanorama Dr. Ruth Manorama is the JD(S) candidate from Bangalore South constituency. Known for her work with the marginalised Dalit and Dalit women, she has contributed immensely in breaking the elitist image of the women’s movement in India. She has worked on a range of issues including the rights of slum dwellers, domestic workers, unorganised labour etc. She deservingly has won the Right Livelihood Award, also known as alternative nobel. She stresses on the interconnectedness between these issues and the common cause that marginalised people share the world over. Her work crosses the borders between grassroots…

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Pic courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/babu.mathew.7739 Professor Babu Mathew is contesting the elections from Bangalore North on an AAP ticket. He has donned the role of a ‘teacher’, ‘trade union activist’, ‘registrar’ and ‘director’ in different stages of his career.   Brief profile Name: Prof. Babu Mathew Party: Aam Aadmi Party Education: BSc, LL.M (Labour Law & Administrative Law), M.Phil- NLSUI, Bangalore Profession: Party worker - AAP, former Visiting professor at National Law University, Delhi. Age: 64 Assets:  Rs.9,48,52,273 Contact Details:Address: 'The Dawn', No 12, King Street, Richmond Town, Shanthinagar, Bangalore - 25, KarnatakaPhone Number: 9448042333Email ID: babumathewtu@gmail.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/BabuMathewForBangaloreNorthTwitter: www.twitter.com/ProfBabuMathew Prominent positions held…

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Nina P Nayak Pic: Nikita Malusare Nina P Nayak, contesting on an AAP ticket, with 30 years of experience as a social worker and member of various Child Rights committees, now forays into representing Bangalore South at the Lok Sabha, though she stays in Malleshwaram which belongs to Bangalore North constituency. She has worked extensively on the child protection front. Her works have significantly contributed for the recognition of child rights, policy formulation for these rights and their implementation by the Government of India. She has been actively promoting the implementation of ‘Juvenile Justice Act’ and the ‘Protection of Children…

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PartySouthNorthCentralRuralChikkabalapurAam Aadmi PartyNINA P NAYAKBABU MATHEWV. BALAKRISHNANRAVI KRISHNA REDDYK ARKESHBharatiya Janata PartyANANTH KUMARD.V SADANANDA GOWDAP.C. MOHANP.MUNIRAJUB N BACHE GOWDABahujan Samaj PartyABDUL RAZACK KHANVELU VR. MOHAN RAJUTHOPAIAH CCHITRA PRASADIndian National CongressNANDAN NILEKANIC.NARAYANA SWAMYRIZWAN ARSHADD.K.SURESHM VEERAPPA MOILYJanata Dal (Secular)MRS RUTH MANORAMAABDUL AZEEMNANDINI ALVAR. PRABHAKARA REDDYH D KUMARA SWAMYSamajwadi PartyRAVIKUMARA T   ROBIN MATHEWS NAREKATTUPyramid Party of IndiaR GAYATHRI   H N RAMAKRISHNA REDDYRepublican Party of India(A)J. LAKSHMANMUTHURAJUKADUGUDI SONNAPPAM.SONNAPPABASAVEGOWDAG C VENKATARAMANAPPASocialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)UMADEVI. M ZAHEEDA SHEREEN Jai Vijaya Bharathi Party   SHANKARAPPAKamarajar Deseeya Congress   K.A.MOHANIndependentB. R. GOVINDAIAHC.INDRANIAMBROSE D'MELLOJ. T.PRAKASHB ANJANA MURTHYDR. KODUR VENKATESHCHANDRASHEKHARB.K. NARAYANA SWAMYJ.NATARAJUB N GOPALAGOWDADR. PRADEEP GADUGESHD.JAYARAMB.V.VENKATESHAPPAKENCHAIAHD GANGAPPAG. VENKATESH BHOVIDR.MEERLAYAQ HUSSAINBHOVI RAMA C.B.KM.P.MUNAWER SHARIFFD N NARASIMHAMURTHYM ZUBAIR…

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Prithvi Reddy in his office Pic: Shree D N He is the brain behind Aam Aadmi Party for Karnataka. He is also in the AAP's National Executive Committee. Prithvi Reddy gets candid with Citizen Matter’s Shree D N and Nikita Malusare on the AAP’s plans for this election season and his take on the roller coaster ride that their stint in politics has been this far. Can AAP change the election game? I think so. Whatever was believed as winnability in elections - caste, money, muscle power - has been proved wrong in Delhi elections. Delhi election showed us that…

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