The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Campaigning on in full swing

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Thursday, Jun 23, 2011
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Campaigning on in full swing

Staff Reporter

Three claim to have an advantage over the others
Campaigning in the ward will come to an end on Friday.

Bangalore: With the by-poll for Banashankari Temple Ward scheduled on Sunday, the candidates in the fray have intensified the race for a seat in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council.

The election was necessitated by the murder of the incumbent, Dewan Ali.

Autorickshaws fitted with loudspeakers and bearing party insignia are zipping around the ward that is just .68 sq km in area and the electorate, a little over 35,000. The candidates from the three major political parties — A.H. Basavaraju (BJP), Ansar Pasha (Congress) and Mohammad Akbar (Janata Dal-Secular) — all claim to have an “advantage over the others”.

Upping the ante

With the ward coming under the Padmanabhanagar Assembly segment, which is Home Minister R. Ashok's constituency, the BJP has upped its ante. Securing this ward is clearly a prestige issue. Mr. Basavaraju claims voters had realised their mistake after electing Mohammad ‘Dewan' Ali of the Janata Dal (S), who was shot dead by rivals in on January 16 this year.

“I'm confident of winning. People have come to associate good governance with the BJP. They know that the area will finally see some development as Bangalore South MP, Padmanabhanagar MLA and Mayor are all from the BJP,” he said.

He was campaigning in the ward along with Bommanahalli MLA Satish Reddy who alleged that instances of “rowdyism” had increased in the ward with the election of Ali. “People are scared to come out and vote. We have been telling them to support us, as only we can bring down this rowdyism,” he claimed.

‘To split votes'

Congress candidate Pasha claimed that the five independents in the fray are being supported by the BJP.

“They all belong to the minority community. This has been done to split the Muslim votes. This area is a known Congress stronghold. I'm confident of winning,” he said.

Several Congress councillors are extending their support through campaigning for him. Congress workers, meanwhile, alleged that as the ward comes under Mr. Ashok's constituency, security had been strengthened unnecessarily. “The police, at the behest of BJP party workers, threaten to foist false cases against us. On Monday, BJP workers assaulted one of our party workers, Lakshmamma. Though a case was registered, no arrests have been made,” a Congress worker said.

‘Good work'

Janata Dal (S) candidate Akbar is trying to win the by-polls on the “good work” done by his murdered brother. Campaigning along with former Minister Bandeppa Kashempur and senior party leader Prakash Babu (also known as Kabaddi Babu), he alleged that the Congress was working covertly to ensure that the BJP wins in the by-poll. “Congress workers also threaten our people against coming out to campaign,” he alleged.

Meanwhile, Election Officer Avinash Babu told The Hindu that all campaigning will come to an end at 5 p.m. on Friday.

The police had strengthened bandobast in the “very sensitive” ward.

“Personnel have been posted in large numbers to ensure there are no untoward incidents. The shops in the ward close by 10 p.m.”

Officials are also monitoring possible electoral malpractices, he added.

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