As the deadline for filing nominations for BBMP elections looms large, political parties are gazing at the big picture. This is the critical time to reinvent strategies and exert fresh spins on poll promises before the election engine can be revved up to approach an enlightened voters’ community.
On Saturday, JD(S) became the first party to finalise the list of candidates when it released the names for 48 more wards.
The BJP’s strategy is simple and obvious in a city that is crying out for better civic amenities. The party’s focus is firmly on the youth.
On Saturday it released a list of 154 candidates and 40% of them are youngsters. Its youth brigade includes Katta Jagadeesh, son of IT-BT minister Katta Subramanya Naidu, set to contest from Vasanthanagara ward, S Harish (Nagapura), Ganeshrao Mane (JC Nagar), AH Anand (Ganganagar), BV Ganesh (Chamarajpet) and Majunath (Shivanagara).
Another constituency that the BJP is keen to woo is women. Mirroring the mood of the nation, the BJP has given women 33% of the tickets. It has put 56 women candidates in the civic poll fray. BN Vijayakumar, president, city wing of the BJP, says: “We will field women in general wards too.”
At the other end of the spectrum, the Congress is making slow progress. The party will announce the list of candidates only on Sunday evening and will issue B form for the candidates on Monday afternoon. It is learnt that the Congress election committee is holding closed door parleys at a private resort near Bannerghatta to finalise its list. Congress president RV Deshapande said tickets would be given to dedicated workers of the party.
Vijayakumar said the educational background of the candidates played a big role in shaping the BJP list. “We are also looking at the winnability factor. A second list with names for the remaining 44 wards will be released on Sunday afternoon,” he added.
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