But the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) election verdict has proved otherwise. Cutting across party lines, the education background of these councillors puts the City to shame.

Blame it on the poor voter turnout or no better candidate to choose from the fray, the fact remains that the City has elected only 53 councillors who have studied up to or beyond graduation. Nearly 50 percent of the 198 corporators have been educated only up to 10th standard. Of them, more than half have either not completed their SSLC or passed their board examination.

Perhaps, as affidavits point out, one of the more educated councillors is Dr Shivaprasad, MS in orthopaedics representing Aramane Nagar (ward no 35) constituency. Along with him is Dayanand N (M Tech) representing Benniganahalli (ward no 50). However, rendering a striking contrast is Puttamma. The winner from Dasarahalli (ward no 15) constituency has never been to school. Incidentally, all the three candidates are from the BJP.

The BBMP council will be housing as many as 15 engineers, including diploma holders and six postgraduates from various fields. The highest percentage of educated councillors are from the Congress party, with JD(S) and BJP following.

While the BJP has won the most number of seats in the BBMP, the number of least educated councillors also come from the same party.
DH News Service