BBMP polls: Cong forms manifesto panel, JD(S) to hold public meet

The Congress and the JD(S) have begun preparations for the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) elections.

The State Congress has set up the manifesto committee under its president G Parameshwara. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and five ministers from Bengaluru will be in the committee. The party has set July 31 (Friday) deadline for aspirants to submit applications for tickets to contest the elections.

The Congress has already appointed ministers as observers to each of the 28 constituencies. Its leaders are likely to hold a meeting after the legislature session to chalk out a strategy for the polls. The session is scheduled for Thursday and Friday. AICC vice president Rahul Gandhi has reportedly directed all five ministers from Bengaluru to work hard for the party’s victory in the elections.

JD(S) list by Aug 5

The JD(S) will finalise its list of 150 candidates for the BBMP polls on Sunday. The rest of the candidates will be announced by Wednesday (August 5). This decision was taken at a meeting chaired by the JD(S) national president, H D Deve Gowda, and his son H D Kumaraswamy, the party’s State president. Leaders from Bengaluru — B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, Kupendra Reddy, Gopalaiah, Akhanda Srinivasmurthy and Saravana — were present in the meeting. 

The party has decided to conduct a large public meeting at the Palace Grounds on August 5, where it will announce the entire list of candidates, each of whom will come up on the dais and make promises to the people in a bid to win their confidence. At least one lakh people are expected to attend the meeting. 

Thereafter, the candidates will file their nominations. Sources in the JD(S) said that the party’s leadership was certain about 150 candidates. But since there are two or three aspirants in the remaining 48 wards, it has decided to think through the selection process.