Many councillors in dilemma

By Afshan Yasmeen

BANGALORE, OCT. 16. Even as the filing of nominations for the November 11 election to the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) begins on Wednesday, aspirants are yet to decide whether to contest on party ticket or as independents.

With almost all parties making it clear that tickets will not give ticket to candidates who change their religion to contest under the BC(A) category, most of the corporators (whose ward reservation has changed to BC(A) and other categories) are planning to contest as independents, sources said.

Although the Congress leaders are trying to accommodate the ``affected'' corporators in neighbouring wards, the corporators are said to be not keen on this.

Meanwhile, the State Election Commission and the BMP have started preparations for the polls. A preliminary meeting involving representatives from all major parties was convened at Mayo Hall on Tuesday evening.

The BMP Deputy Commissioner (Administration), Dr. K.N.Chandrashekar, and the Assistant Commissioner, State Election Commission, Mr. Gopal Rao, who chaired the meeting, briefed the representatives about the model code of conduct to be follwoed by the candidates, sources said.

``We have asked the political parties to ensure that the candidates did not deface public properties. We have also told them to be careful while pasting posters and putting up banners. They will have to take permission from the BMP to put up any publicity material and banners should not be tied to electric poles,'' Dr. Chandrashekar told The Hindu on Tuesday.

The initial amount to be deposited by each candidate for filing the nomination papers has been increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,000 for the general category and from Rs. 500 to Rs 1. 500 for BC, BC(A), General (Women) and SC/ST categories, he said.

The Election Commission had directed all parties to issue ``B'' forms to the candidates before October 24, which was the last day for filing nominations, unlike last time when the forms were issued before the last day of withdrawal of nominations.

Mr. M.Ramachandrappa, former Mayor and KPCC General Secretary, Mr. Govindaraj (JD-U), former Deputy Mayor, Mr. Srirame Gowda (JD-S), former Deputy Mayor, Mr. Vijay Kumar (BJP) and Mr. Sriramalu (CPI) attended the meeting. Each of these members were given a set of mustering, de-mustering, and counting centres and statistical details on ward-wise voters.

Candidates can start filing nominations from 11 a.m. on Wednesday after a formal election notification is issued. October 24 is the last date for filing of nominations.

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Section  : Southern States
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