Special voter registration camp revives 1.24 lakh applications

A massive-special voter enrollment drive by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) along with the Election Commission of India received about 1.24 lakh applications on Sunday across the city.

These included new registrations, change of address and correction of names on the voter's list.

The drive was conducted across 28 constituencies from 10 am to 5 pm.

In Yeshwanthpur constituency, Mayanna and Kiran are reported to have stolen about 450 Form-6 applications from Arunodaya school in Vigneshwara Nagar. The incident occurred at 2.30 pm and a case has been registered at the Byadarahalli police station.

Except for this case, the drive has received a good response with a few complaints in areas such as Girinagar and Hagadur wards.

"The booth was not open until 11 am and people were seen waiting outside the office," said PG Bhat, a resident of Girinagar.

However, the BBMP was quick enough to send officers as soon as he registered a complaint over the phone, he said.

In booths at Hagadur and Garudacharpalya wards, the officers had only Form-6.

"Those who wanted to correct their names on the voter's list or change their address found it difficult as the BBMP had only Form-6," said a member of Whitefield Rising.

Voter awareness drive

A street play and a run were organised as part of the campaign by the BBMP and Workers' Welfare Association on Sunday.

'Gejje Hejje' theatre team led by Mysore Ramanand performed a street play 'Chunavane Samaya', highlighting the importance of people's participation in democracy.

Inaugurating the event, BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad appreciated the performance and the choice of the subject.

"The street play should include information about the electronic voting machine and the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT). Awareness programmes will be held at many places across the city," he said.

Later, the running event flagged off at the Cubbon Park main gate. Participants with 'My Vote, My Right' printed on their T-shirts ran through Kasturba Road, Kanteerava Stadium, Rajaram Mohan Roy Road to reach the Palike office.

Placards asking people to vote were also displayed. Special commissioner (Election) Manoj Kumar Meena, BBMP special commissioner S G Ravindra and deputy commissioner (urban) K A Dayanand took part.