Governance

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…

Uday Garudachar's candidature on a BJP ticket from Chickpet came as a surprise for many. While he has previously stood as an independent in Bihar for Rajya Sabha seat, Garudachar has not been politically active in the city, just as he states being a BJP member for the last six years. Uday Garudachar has an Electronic Engineering degree from Bangalore University. Maverick Holdings, an entity for which Uday Garudachar had been the managing director, has been involved in many government projects including affordable housing projects. Garuda Mall, one of the early malls in Bengaluru, was built by Maverick Holdings on…

Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also reach us through Twitter or Facebook! Bengaluru This Week Get our free weekly newsletter. Name   Email       Bengaluru This Week archives. He is not even a corporator. But many of his ideas have been implemented successfully by various government and civic bodies, to make life better for most. He came up with the idea of big-10 buses, and the BMTC implemented it. As an advisor to the Bangalore traffic police, he came up with a smart…

"A vote is like a rifle; its usefulness depends upon the character of the user."- Theodore RooseveltIn democracy, vote is the rifle. Vote is the power. Vote is the panacea to ills of the society. Vote is the instrument to bring about the desired changes in one's surroundings, society and country. Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can also reach us through Twitter or Facebook! Bengaluru This Week Get our free weekly newsletter. Name Email Bengaluru This Week archives. The Indian democracy has two challenges.Making everyone vote.Voting…

Five-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy, now representing the BTM assembly was busy campaigning in Pothulappa Garden of Lakkasandra ward. Reddy visited an ailing supporter at his house after which he offered prayers to the local deity and then sat down for a chat with Citizen Matters during a campaign. As his supporters sang his praises in the background, Reddy talked about his constituency and his work in the last five years. Ramalinga Reddy Pic: Sriram V Here are the excerpts from the interview:  Note: This website will soon be migrated to a new system.  If you face any issues, do mail us. You can…

On the Sunday evening, the Temple Street, Malleshwaram appears to be normal, at least on the surface. People are moving as usual, shopping and chatting, while shoppers are busy in their business. Isn’t this the street that saw a bomb blast four days ago? You don’t get to confirm it until you go nearer, at least till the next cross, from where you can see the police barricade clearly. Majestic Jagannath Bhavan, the mansion that houses the BJP office, stands proudly, almost diagonally opposite to the blast site. Politicians and cops are seen everywhere in the scene. Next to that…