Contributing to the chaos

messy affair

It is the season of election rallies and door-to-door campaigns. Candidates are losing no opportunity to woo people in whatever way they can. 

Although, there’s a strict ban on election material such as buntings, posters and banners, politicians have planned their campaigns rather colourfully and got the supporters to make as much noise as they can.

The campaigns and rallies are leaving behind a trail of garbage, thus rendering the City dirty. 

The pamphlets, posters and freebies such as caps, bags, masks and water that are distributed to people during door-to-door campaigns, are strewn on the road and the Election Commission and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) concede that it is indeed a challenge to clean up the mess and confess that they can do nothing except grin and bear it, until the last day of campaigning which is on April 15 till 6 pm.

  

Metrolife speaks to the electoral officers, BBMP authorities and the public to understand why garbage during election time is so mismanaged.

M Lakshminarayana, election commissioner (Bangalore district), who is also the commissioner of BBMP, explains that every rally by candidates is carried out with the permission of returning officers in charge of elections. 

“The expenditure towards the number of vehicles used for campaigns, posters, handbills and other election materials will have to be included in the candidate’s election expenses. If the rally is held in a ground, then the respective political party which held the rally is expected to clean up the mess, that’s left behind after the rally,” observes Lakshminarayana.

 

He further states, it is a problem to manage the garbage left behind on the streets after campaigns, “The BBMP is authorised to slap a fine of Rs 100 on anybody who litters. But in the present scenario, during campaigning, it is impossible to divert attention to fining people, who litter the place. The   pourakarmikas have been asked to work overtime to clear the mess,” he states.  

 

Laksminarayana further reasons that there is a clear ban on posters and election material.

But the BBMP is doing its bit to get these posters removed and booking cases against the offenders under the ‘Karnataka Open Places (Prevention of Disfigurement) Act 1981’. 

 

A senior officer with th Election Commission, claims, “A drive is on to get these posters and banners removed and the offender has to pay the fine only in court.  However, there is a provision where permission can be granted by the BBMP to erect these posters for a period of seven days from the date of issue, exceeding which these will be removed.”
 

The ordinary people find politicians and their campaigning nothing short of an act of buffoonery.

 

They believe that once the elections are over, the City will be left in a mess again. Sonia Francis, a housewife feels, “I don’t think there should be elections at all. None of the politicians are capable of doing anything for the City. It will be the same scene after th elections.” 

 

Elizabeth, who works for a stock exchange feels the same, “It’s a joke when they come campaigning and further dirty the City. There’s a lot of indifference among the people towards politicians.” 

 

Tasleen, an employee with Yahoo states, “It would have been better if they had used the money, they spend towards election freebies and material for the development of the City.”

Moin, a trainer with Aptech concludes, “The politicians are doing nothing to save the City from traffic jams, garbage and increasing illnesses. They only add to the chaos.”