To give Rs5 lakh to each; aspiring MLAs are from Congress, BJP, KJP Lok Satta Party and JD(S).
The Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), a citizen’s initiative, has endorsed 14 candidates for the forthcoming assembly elections contesting from constituencies in the city, and will fund their election expenses to the tune of Rs 5 lakh each.
The candidates endorsed by BPAC include: Krishna Byregowda (Byatarayanapura, Congress), BK Chandrashekar (Basavanagudi, Cong), Shantala Damle (Basavanagudi, Lok Satta Party - LSP), Dr Ashwin Mahesh (Bommanahalli, LSP), Tejaswini Gowda (Bangalore South, Cong), Dinesh Gundu Rao (Gandhinagar, Cong), Abdul Azeem (Hebbal, JD-S), BN Vijaykumar (Jayanagar, BJP), Dr Ashwathnarayan (Malleswaram, BJP), Dr Meenakshi Bharath (Malleshwaram, LSP), NL Narendra Babu (Mahalakshmi Layout, Cong), MRV Prasad (Padmanabhanagar, (JD-S), S Sureshkumar (Rajajinagar, BJP) and Michael B Fernandes (Sarvagnanagar, KJP).
Speaking with reporters, BPAC members Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Manipal Global chairman Mohandas Pai and former IAS officer K Jairaj said their endorsement of the 14 candidates was aimed at introducing transparency in mobilisation of resources for election and engagement of politicians in development work. The committee has raised Rs1 crore fund from public and would provide Rs 5 lakh for a candidate. The committee has also identified two candidates in some constituencies and the candidates will receive Rs 3 lakh.
Explaining the process of selection of the candidates for endorsement, former IAS officer K Jairaj said the criteria included record of public service, level of education, filing of income tax and good knowledge of governance of Bangalore city. The selection of candidates also laid that they should not have criminal record, no history of misuse of public office, or violence against women and children, he added. As for as sitting MLAs, their performance on utilisation of funds is taken into account, he said.
Committee chairperson and Biocon chief Kiran Majumdar Shaw BPAC’s drive for voter registration had seen about 6 lakh new voters registering with the election commission”By conducting seminars at corporate offices, college campuses and residential complexes. We have also worked with Chief Election Officer of the state,” Shaw said.
Explaining the BPAC’s initiatives, Shaw said: “By doing nothing, we can’t cleanse the system mired in corruption and illegality.”
That is why BPAC was formed. “Even after the elections, we will be in touch with the MLAs we have supported and get them to act according to our development agenda,” she said.
Pai said the committee chose Bangalore city first as it is a unique city in the country which comprises of 40 percent of educated mass. As many as 10 lakh people are engaged in IT & BT industry and goonda culture prevalent in Mumbai and New Delhi was not seen here.
“We don’t get beaten up for taking stances here. There is very good engagement with people and the government here,” he stated.
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