Bangalore candidates use Friday prayers to gain more votes

Candidates in fray for the Banashankari Temple ward elections continued their campaigning on Friday even as the deadline ended at 7 am. The candidates, along with their party leaders, thronged mosques for the Friday prayers and were seen distributing pamphlets to woo voters.

Congress candidate Ansar Pasha, along with Shantinagar MLA NA Haris, visited the mosque in Yarabnagar. While they were inside, JD(S) candidate Mohammed Akbar too reached the same mosque with his supporters. Fearing a clash between the supporters of the two parties, police intervened and persuaded Akbar not to enter the mosque. They escorted Akbar to another mosque in the ward. Police sources said that about 50 people were detained in the ward for campaigning after the deadline. Over 30 women were detained at Yarabnagar and released later with a warning after they were found canvassing post the deadline.

Kumaraswamy Layout police detained 10 people from Umar Bhag Nagar and another 10 from Sarabandepalya for the same offence. With two days to go for the election, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike ward number 180 has become a fortress with police personnel stationed in every nook and corner to prevent any illegal activity and violation of the election code of conduct. A senior police officer said more personnel had been deployed from Friday. Four ACPs, six inspectors, 25 sub-inspectors, 68 head constables, 98 constables and eight KSRP platoons were pressed to service in the ward.