Drinking water, sanitation, better roads and garbage disposal are the candidates’ main poll plank during campaigning, giving a feel of the local body elections than  that of the Assembly elections.
A tour of the constituency indicates this segment is poised for an interesting contest between the BJP and the Congress.

From a traditional Communist bastion due to the large population of industrial workers, the constituency has witnessed considerable demographic changes in the last decade due to the influx of people from outside the State.

 The main contestants - Suresh Kumar (BJP) and G Padmavathi (Cong) - have worked as corporators in various wards and are acquainted with people’s woes .

Though the voting pattern of the electorate is unpredictable due to the shifting population, Suresh seems to have an edge due to his down-to-earth image.

However, he had to taste defeat against Congress candidate Narendra Babu in 2004. Suresh seems to have learnt from his mistakes; this time, he promises to be more accessible to the people.

Padmavathi is banking on the large number of Balajiga votes, especially in Srirampura and Bhashyamnagar segments.

She is also banking on the fact that voters had elected Congress councillors from six of the seven wards in the constituency, in Rajajinagar, Kamakshipalya, Shivanagar, Sriramamandira and Bhashyamnagar, in the last BMP polls.

The lone BJP councillor from the locality was elected from Basaveshwaranagar.
JD(S) candidate M A Anand is testing his electoral fortunes for the first time. He is pinning his hopes on the door-to-door campaign and the 30,000 Vokkaliga votes.

VOTE QUOTE

 I have several plans for development of the constituency - setting up of a traffic corridor in Okalipuram, easing traffic moving towards the station. I also plan to empower the resident welfare associations.

S Suresh Kumar, BJP

I have worked as a corporator and voters easily identify with me. I am also associated with various non-governmental organisations and the women votes (86,295 of the 1.8 lakh) will tilt the balance in favour of me

G Padmavathi, Congress

My public image and my social service for the last 40 years in the constituency will help me. I have helped a number of people and am associated with various activities in the field of politics, sports, education and social activities. 

M A Anand , JD(S)