Mangalore : The ruling BJP in the state, is facing the urban local body elections which are considered the semi finals to the impending assembly polls, by placing before the voters the development and pro-people programmes initiated by the government during the past five years.
The BJP which rose to power in MCC for the first time after the 2007 elections, is now trying to convince voters of its achievements including concretization of roads and water supply projects which were taken up on priority basis. The party is also leaving no stone unturned in explaining to the voters the benefits of the Sakala scheme introduced during the chief ministership of DV Sadananda Gowda.
‘Vote BJP for Continuous Progress of the State’ is the slogan of the BJP at the state, while in Coastal district the BJP Mantra is Vote us for Comprehensive Development of the Coastal belt.
“ There have been no serious problems relating to water supply during the past five year period. Also there have been no protests holding empty pots in front of MCC office as happened during Congress rule. The roads have not only been concretized, but interlocks have also been laid at some places. Priority has also been accorded to garbage disposal,” says a citizen of the city.
A resident of Alake states that majority of the BJP corporators have efficiently handled the civic problems in their wards and tried to solve the same. The condition of many roads have been improved and the special grants sanctioned to MCC during Yeddyurappa’s chief ministership have been effectively utilized, he adds.
A voter from Ladyhill points out that the BJP administration has effectively handled the waste management issue while the fact is that waste management is one of the major challenges faced by many urban local bodies. When Bangalore was stinking with undisposed garbage, Mangalore was clean, he points out.
The younger generation of Mangalore is bowled by the development Mantra of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. A BJP candidate has made Modi Mantra the main point of his agenda and has won the hearts of voters. This candidate is liked by many who want their corporator irrespective of caste or community affiliations to attend to civic problems and make the city beautiful.
Many BJP candidates are also trying to explain to the voter as to what best they can do and they will do during the next five years, if they are elected. Some of the populist assurances like effective management of plastic wastes and 24X7 water supply are used to woo the voters.
Even former CM DV Sadananda Gowda went on a Padayatra and made a door to door visit to campaign for the BJP candidates, further boosting the morale of the party. MLA and former minister Krishna Palemar had plunged head on into the campaign in the last minute and had embarked on a brisk padayatra. If everything goes as per calculations, the BJP is optimistic of winning in at least 45 out of the total 60 wards in MCC.
The BJP campaign also highlights the increase in government medical seats with the setting up of five new medical colleges, framing of a youth policy in order to achieve empowerment of youth and the successful conduct of the 17th National Youth Conference in Mangalore.
Yet another promise has been to complete the construction of the second vented dam at Thumbay at the earliest and see to it that the city never faced water problem.
The BJP has practiced what it preached and will continue to do so in the future too. Karnataka can progress only through BJP. Therefore vote us and pave the way for development, states the BJP’s publicity campaign.