MP calls for every citizen to come out and vote for a better city

Vote-bank politics peaks every time there is an election. This is because the political class is sure that only a small section of the educated citizens will head out and vote. And that is how the corrupt and the criminal-minded become our councillors and MLAs. To stop this trend, Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrashekar has launched a campaign, Vote For Good Corporator, for everybody to come out and vote sensibly. The city is covered with banners and posters with pictures of men and women asking you to elect a good corporator. Over 10,000 hoard ings have been put up, 10,000 pamphlets will be handed out and a film on voting will play in 178 theatre screens. t "Only if we are all smart and aware can we change the fate of Bengaluru.The city requires good corporators and good governance. If we don't vote, how can we get either? If more citizens show their support, more reform-oriented candidates will join politics; and eventually the political class will consist of reform-oriented people," says Rajeev. There is cause for hope in the upcoming BBMP civic polls. There is a techie, an Amazon employee, a doctor and many such new faces in the field. More than 200 independent candidates have filed nominations and over 100 of those fielded by political parties are under the age of 40 years. The 2010 BBMP elections saw a good number of independent candidates aspiring to become people's representatives. Veena was one of the first transsexuals to contest the BBMP elections.Dereick Anil, a teacher, and theatre personality Prakash Belavadi also jumped into the poll fray but lost. If one looks at things carefully, we will realize they lost to the vote-bank politics of traditional parties. Veena lost to Queen Elizabeth, wife of one-time goon Christopher Chakravarthy, who contested on a Congress ticket. The campaign is targeted at making the educated voters exercise their franchise. "For long, we have distracted ourselves from the real threat our city faces. Clean, honest, citizen-centric gover nance with transparency, accountability and citizen involvement in all 198 wards is the real solution. I appeal to your sense of duty to get involved now and cast your vote in the BBMP election. Please make your voice heard in the campaign and discussions leading to the election... Make sure you vote for good candidates regardless of party, caste religion or community," Rajeev says through his campaign. -TOI