Palike launches street plays to ensure voters turn up at poll booths

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has organised street plays in all the 198 wards of the City to encourage citizens exercise their franchise in the elections to the civic agency.

District Election Officer and BBMP Commissioner G Kumar Naik who flagged off the street play programme on Wednesday, said: “The voting percentage was about 44 per cent in the 2010 Palike elections. We want to improve the percentage this year.

“As many as eight teams comprising around 10-15 artistes will perform the street plays at crowded places like colleges, bus terminals and markets. All the eight zones coming under the BBMP limits will be covered.”

The street plays will disseminate information about the date of elections, timings, voting rights, helplines, among other related information, said Palike officers.

The commissioner said that along with street plays, hoardings and vertical panels with information related to BBMP polls are also in the pipeline. Hoardings are already being erected in a few parts of the City, while vertical panels on four-wheelers, buses, and other vehicles are also being used.

“We are trying our best to ensure a large turnout on the day of elections. The onus lies on the citizens to decide on whether to vote or not. I appeal all the citizens to vote for the right candidates,” the commissioner said.