BJP Paints Saffron over BBMP: Will Bangaloreans gain?
by Gabriel Vaz
Daijiworld Media Network
BANGALORE, APR 5: Though the B S Yeddyurappa-led BJP regime tried its best and resorted to every possible ploys to put off the long-delayed elections to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or the Greater Bangalore City Corporation Council and had to finally face them, the ruling party has done exceedingly well and has virtually ensured that the civic body will be in its control for the next five years.
Though the Daijiworld website had predicted as early as on March 20, the very next day after the closure of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations for the March 28 polls, that BJP has a ``clear edge” even as both the Congress and JD(S) leaders had also claimed that their parties will romp home victorious or at least humble the ruling party. In fact, the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa as well as state BJP president K S Eshwarappa had gone on record in claiming that the party would win at least 120 out of the 198 seats.
And now, it appears that BJP is on the verge of crossing the 110-seat mark in the BBMP even as complete details of counting in all the wards are still awaited. Thus, with the ruling party enjoying some 30 votes from non-corporators like MLAs, MLCs and MPs, who are ex-officio members enjoying voting rights, it will have no difficulty in getting BJP man elected as the Mayor and Deputy Mayor and also packing majority of its own members in the various key panels of the civic body. With the entire electoral process scheduled to be completed by April 6, Tuesday, the ruling party can be expected to complete these exercises by the end of this month or at the latest by the end of May.
Of course, the government has now promised to embark on an even bigger electoral challenge of facing the grama panchayat elections by May. Though the elections to the grama panchayats, the lowest rung of the panchayat raj bodies, are supposed to be held on non-party basis, it is common knowledge that politics and political affiliations play a dominant role especially at the grass-roots level. Anyway that is a different subject and can be discussed separately later.
With the completion of BBMP polls and the ruling party assured of total control over the civic body, it is time to focus attention on what needs to be done for the development of Bangalore.
First, however, let us examine why the ruling party did as well as it did while the opposition Congress and JD(S) could not. Evidently, the BJP, being the ruling party in the state, had a distinct advantage because it has won most of the assembly constituencies that form part of the BBMP and also all the lok sabha constituencies barring the Bangalore rural notwithstanding its efforts to put off the elections.
With other things like the uncertainty on when or whether the BBMP polls will be held at all being equal for all parties, including BJP, the ruling party clearly had an advantage as it could boast of all the civic works undertaken by the Yeddyurappa regime during the last 20 months. The BJP enjoys greater support among the urban and educated voters, which is more pronounced in Bangalore, Mangalore and other urban pockets.
Even though successive governments , have been implementing several developmental works and civic amenity projects in Bangalore especially after S M Krishna took over as the state’s chief minister in 1999, it is undeniable that the Yeddyurappa regime has taken up a wide range of civic projects aimed at developing and improving the infrastructure in the city during the last 20 months. Apart from Bangaloreans, even those who have visited Bangalore during the last two years can vouch for the road improvement works, construction of underpasses, overbridges, flyovers, laying of storm water drains and various other works in almost every part of the city.
The Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Service or the Bangalore Energy Supply Company and various other civic agencies have been involved in a series of works. In addition, the road widening works around Vidhana Soudha and different other prominent locations, development of parks and boost to the metro rail works are projects that have impressed all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
True, the Yeddyurappa regime and the BJP were affected by a serious dissidence struggle that almost led to the collapse of the first-ever BJP government in the south. But the BJP seems to have sorted out the internal differences and managed to present a united front.
The opposition Congress and JD(S), on the other hand, have been unable to sort out their respective party problems or present an effective alternative to the BJP. While the Congress party continued with its top-heavy approach without strengthening the grassroots level organization and cadres, the JD(S) seemed to think that it’s Yeddyurappa-bashing and over-emphasis on Bangalore-Mysore infrastructure corridor project and land acquisition issues would appeal to the voters. But, obviously, the voters particularly women and youth had other ideas and priorities, which also might be one of the main reasons for the apathy of the voters in exercising their franchise. Even in a situation of low polling, it is quite likely that BJP’s committed voters may have turned up while those owing their allegiance to Congress and JD(S) may have stayed off. A large number of independents and their considerable pull in different localities may have also worked to the advantage of the ruling party.
Anyway, with the completion of the BBMP polls, the focus now shifts to the development and tackling the problems of the city along with larger issues of governance. Even as the BBMP polls were over, the government has already resorted to load-shedding and power cuts. The state government seems to be waiting for the completion of the BBMP polls to allow the Karnataka Milk Federation to increase the prices of Nandini milk all over the state. The BWSSB is also planning to hike the water rates while BESCOM is biding its time to hike the power tariff. All these hikes, which had been delayed by the government for various reasons, when implemented will surely have a cascading effect. If there is any slackness on the developmental front or the BBMP corporators, who have spent huge amounts to get elected, indulge in corruption in the implementation of the civic works, the people will feel the pinch and might regret their decision of voting for the saffron brigade.
The proof of the pudding lies in its eating. Similarly, getting elected is just a small step but delivering on the promises and proving that the BJP can really transform the city and make it a better place is the major challenge. The next six to twelve months are crucial.