BBMP polls: ‘New politicians are new hope!’

Bengaluru: After an 18-year-long stint in the corporate world, Lakshmi Moola will take a big leap into local politics for this BBMP election. Filled with a zeal to serve people in her ward, she quit a high-profile job as the Asian vice-president of an MNC.

On Friday, Lakshmi filed nominations from Pattabhiramanagar ward in Jayanagar constituency, where she will contest the polls from Loksatta Party.

After wearing many hats, including that of an entrepreneur and a civic activist, at 41, Lakshmi is ready to become a corporator. “We educated citizens can only complain that nothing is right with our system. We don’t try to contribute towards a better society. I decided to contest elections after noticing that people have given up on politicians but they have not lost hope in the system,” she tells Deccan Chronicle, standing outside the BBMP office in Jayanagar, minutes before she files her nomination papers.   

Much before she decided to contest from Loksatta, she volunteered with B.PAC for a year to get a better grasp of  the problems of people at the grassroots.   

Though Lakshmi believes that urban voters are ready to move away from traditional politics, she may have a tough fight on her hands in Pattabhiramanagar, where the residents are loyal BJP supporters.

She doesn’t let this deter her. “I have lived in Jayanagar for nearly two decades and I know the problems of this ward and its people,” she says. She’s set for a battle from one of the oldest constituencies, where she says the major issues are traffic management and pedestrian safety. “A new concern is the increase in cases of dengue in the locality. I plan to prioritize the complaints and by engaging people, will solve all the problems,” she says.

She’s a person who gave up a fat paycheck to pursue her passion of serving society. The pittance given to corporators by way of salary, must seem small by comparison. She’s unfazed by this, too. “I want to stand up for honest and clean candidates. There are those who choose to stay away from politics fearing that with a mere Rs 7,500 salary they can’t support their families. Corporators should be suitably compensated,” she says.

Before she signs off, she mentions, “People are frustrated with politicians and their scams. New parties are the new hope!”