Series: BBMP Elections 2010

AIADMK’s Kailasam and JD(S)’s Marimuthu were present at a public meeting with their ward residents. Both arrived late, leaving little room for discussion.

Four contestants for the Gangenahalli ward met citizens and talked about a variety of local concerns from skywalks, playgrounds, stray dogs and cleanliness.

So says Corporator-aspirant Nandini Shivkumar contesting from Subramanyanagar ward, as she publicly signed an affidavit declaring the same.

Transparency, accountability, citizen participation – the women contesting from Shanthinagar ward promised all this and much more at a recent public interaction.

Citizen Matters caught up with Swarnamala Jain, Latha Narasimha Murthy and Prof. Amaravathi – the three candidates contesting from HSR Ward – for their take on key issues.

Ahead of the city council elections, residents of Domlur meet with their ward candidates with suggestions and grievances.

A vegetable loader, a contractor-turned dalit activist, a former electrician – all hope to disrupt mainline party candidates who are making a bee line for votes from Bengaluru’s poor.

Corporator-aspirants are leaving no stone unturned, as they openly offer money to the media to be written about. Paid news goes local.

At the Vasanthnagar debate on Mar 22nd, five candidates responded to hard questions on roadwidening, Akrama-Sakrama, language on bus signboards and more, moving beyond responding to grievances on water, parks, roads, garbage and electricity.

Koramangala ward residents got to interact with all their ward councillor candidates under one roof in a debate organised by SmartVote and the Koramangala United Citizens Council.

Six candidates interact with residents of BTM layout and Madiwala, but citizens allow little room to gauge the thinking of these Corporator-aspirants.

People from different walks of life attended the event and all of them addressed one common issue of water.