Rs 20 cr spent on false poll hopes

With the civic poll indefinitely postponed, those who aspired for a seat are upset the money they spent on wooing voters is now a total loss

With the civic poll indefinitely postponed, those who aspired for a seatu00a0 are upset the money they spent on wooing voters is now a total loss

Aspiring candidates for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) polls are upset that the money they spent to persuade leaders to give them a ticket and to woo voters has gone down the drain as the polls have been indefinitely postponed.

It has been estimated that aspiring candidates in all 198 wards had together spent around Rs 20 crore.

M B Adi Narayana, who wished to contest from Hosahalli ward on a BJP ticket, said, "On an average, a candidate has spent Rs 20 lakh. Some of them were fresh faces and I think they can't bear the loss."

A BJP leader said, "The worst hit are BJP members, as members of other parties had adopted a wait-and-watch approach during the legal tangle. We now feel ditched as our elected leaders managed to put off the polls."

M B Adi Narayana, who wished to contest the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike election from Hosahalli ward on a BJP ticket, at a recent medical camp organised by him to woo voters

Splurging on voters

Aspiring candidates had come up with various ways to woo voters. "I conducted two free medical camps, one in December and the other one in January at the cost of Rs 3 lakh," said Adi Narayana.

B T Srinivasamurthy, a former councillor, distributed gifts and 50,000 specially printed cards on Makar Sankranti.

Ganesh Shanbog, an aspiring BJP candidate from Hampi Nagara ward, distributed saris.

Said one recipient, "It was of poor quality and it shrunk when I washed it. When we complained to him, he gave us fresh ones."

Umesh Shetty, an aspirant from Nagarabaavi ward, sent 35 busloads of his voters on a pilgrimage to Shabari Malai and Om Shakthi temple near Chennai.

Ravindra, another former councillor, distributed Raymond uniform pieces to 2,500 auto drivers.

Aspiring candidates also extended Kannada Rajyotsava from November to January, and held local cricket tournaments.

They also sponsored condolence programmes for veteran actors Dr Vishnuvardhan and K S Aswath.

"However, every thing was simply a waste. I am just extremely disappointed," said B T Srinivasamurthy.

Long Wait Again

The Supreme Court has asked the authorities to rework the ward wise reservations in the city. However, the state election commission (SEC) has categorically stated that it can not hold polls till the reservations are done. Sources in the government said elections are not expected for another two years.