Missing names in voters' list marks civic polls

Protest over names missing from the voters’ list marked the city corporation polls here today with a keen contest on the cards between ruling BJP, opposition Congress and JD(S) to gain control of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.

The polls, due in 2006, is being held now after the corporation (then Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) was expanded from 100 wards to 198. In V V Puram agitated voters who found their names missing from their list took out a protest led by former mayor P R Ramesh.

In some wards, opposing party workers were engaged in a tussle over allegations of enticing voters or of proxy voting, while in some others,polling process was delayed due to malfunctioning of Electronic Voting Machines which was subsequently set right. Celebrities including popular actor Puneet Raj Kumar turned up for voting.

The ruling party is holding the polls as per the directions of the High Court after its reported attempts to postpone the polls failed. A total of 1,342 candidates were contesting in 198 wards. BJP is contesting in 197, Congress in 196 and JDS 195 wards.

Around 30,000 police personnel today were deployed in the city to ensure law and order. Counting of votes will take place on April 5.

The stir, launched by former Prime Minister and JD(S) chief, H D Deve Gowda, against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) project, apparently keeping an eye on BBMP wards on the city outskirts where farmers have lost their land to the project is likely to stand the JDS in good stead.

There are 1342 candidates in 198 wards. BJP is contesting 197, Congress in 196 and JD(S) 195. The ruling party is holding the polls as per the directions of the High Court after its reported attempts to postpone the polls failed.

The authorities have set up 6,600 polling stations. About 30,000 police personnel will keep a watch on the poll process. The counting of votes will be on April 5.