Filing nomination papers: Citizens fume over show of strength

On the second day of nomination for the Assembly polls, candidates went with large number of their supporters to file their papers, causing tremendous inconvenience to commuters in several areas.

Lengthy cavalcades and bikes brought traffic to a grinding halt, as several candidates – including former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka — proceeded to the poll office to file their nomination papers precisely between 10 am to 11 am, the auspicious time marked out by their astrologers.

Traffic jams were witnessed in KR Puram, Hebbal, Yelahanka, CV Ramanagar, Padmanabhanagar and Chickpet. The stranded vehicles stretched up to two kilometers in some places, where even the ambulances could not move ahead.

Traffic chocked during BJP supporters are gathered who came for nomination rally, at Yelahanka. (DH Photo by B H Shivakumar)

Adding to the chaos were the slogan shouters on the bikes and footpaths, who were joined by onlookers who parked their vehicles on the roadside to witness the procession. Women on the streets complained that party workers harassed them in the guise of showing strength. “They were very rude,” said Geethanjali N, a resident of Hebbal.

“Police and poll panel should take note of the way those accompanying the candidates behave. They should restrict their numbers so that common people are not inconvenienced,” she added.

Police admitted that they were caught off-guard by the unusually large number of supporters accompanying the candidates for nomination filing. The officials were nonetheless seen diverting traffic and blocking roads.

“We never saw the MLA or party workers in the last five years. But now, there’s so much crowd just to file nomination. This’s absurd. Many of us are late for work,” said Mahadevappa from Chickpet.

V Vinayak from KR Puram wondered why the workers should celebrate for merely filing nominations. “The candidates haven’t won the elections,” he said. “Traffic is always at a snail pace in KR Puram Bridge and surrounding areas. And now, we’ve to deal with the gala affair for merely filing nominations.”

Candidates who filed their nomination papers on Thursday are: S R Vishwanath (BJP, Yelahanka), Prithvi Reddy (AAP, Sarvagna Nagar), Y A Narayanaswamy (BJP, Hebbal), R Ashoka (BJP. Padmanabhanagar), B A Basavaraju (Congress, KR Puram) and R V Devaraj (Congress, Chickpet).