Battle for Bangalore: BJP, Congress fight it out, AAP exudes confidence

Bengaluru:  The political parties in Karnataka have drawn their swords for the battle of Bengaluru. After the intervention of the Supreme Court, decks have been cleared for conducting elections for the 243 wards of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the elections of which have been pending since September, 2019.
The BJP and the Congress want to establish their supremacy to show that they are running the show in the Silicon Valley of India. Both are indulging in bitter fights over the reservation of wards, and the Congress has gone to the Supreme Court. The verdict is expected soon.
Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is brimming with confidence that it would fly its flag in Bengaluru by springing a surprise in the civic polls of Bengaluru, no matter whenever the elections are held. The ruling BJP has been accused of bungling with reservation and the delimitation process. The Opposition blames the ruling party for deliberately wanting a prolonged legal battle so that the BBMP elections are held after the state General Assembly elections in 2023.
Also Read Munugode Assembly bypoll to show which way Telangana 2023 is headed Anil Kumar Tadkal, spokesperson of the Congress while talking to IANS said that the BJP has violated all rules while finalising the delimitation of wards. “There has to be certain guidelines such as the number of voters or any other criterion. Where there is no presence of ST community, the ward is reserved for them similarly where there are more number of SC voters, the ward is made general category. Wherever Congress MLA’s are there, in 96 wards, 72 wards are reserved for women,” he says.
“We are ready to face elections any day. But, the BJP is wanting to postpone the BBMP elections somehow as the notification for the state Assembly elections will be made in six months. If elections are held now, sitting MLAs will have to take care of the expenses. They may face rebellion, which would affect them adversely,” Anil Kumar Tadkal explained.
“The Congress candidates have been working in the respective wards for the past 3 to 4 years, after getting all details, BJP has deliberately messed with reservation for its advantage. The wards represented by BJP candidates have remained untouched,” he said.