This BBMP: Real poll or semi-final?

With just 24 hours to go for the big Bengaluru election, BJP starts the march to the polls with one seat already in its kitty. But is there enough enthusiasm around for a Bengalurean to get himself to the booth? Uncertainty over the continuation of BBMP council with CM Siddaramaiah engaging in restructuring of Bengaluru, the same old faces and parties in the fray and the cynicism whether the results will really make a difference are issues haunting Bengalureans. Team DC asks the crème-de-la-crème of Bengaluru three questions on Saturday’s elections.

The essence of democracy is casting our vote for a candidate of choice

V. Ravichander, chairman of Feedback Consulting

The essence of democracy is casting our vote for a candidate of choice in our multiple elections, whether it’s Local body, State legislature or Parliament. The one due this Saturday for the BBMP elections is a milestone in this journey. Given the spate of news development on the BBMP front, from talk of dissolution, trifurcation, BBMP restructuring, court arguments to a bill passed in the Assembly for multi-Corporations (awaiting Presidential assent that may or may not materialize), a Bengalurean  could be forgiven for thinking of this election round as a semi-final.

And one hopes it is a semi-final, because the BBMP in its current form is incapable of delivering on citizens’ expectations. The BBMP Restructuring report has detailed the list of infirmities that define BBMP today. This covers the gamut of ineffective governance and administration, farcical ward committees, trust deficit with citizens, implementation challenges, financial mismanagement, no transparency or accountability, poor human resource capability, etc.

These are real concerns and they will be around post the new Council taking over next week. The 12 Standing Committees with 132 Corporators will be back and if the past record means anything, we are likely to see more executive interference. The current governance and arrangements are dysfunctional and set up to fail. We are in denial of the structural and operational problems if we continue to insist that if we vote for the right candidate,  all will be well. The need of the hour is serious BBMP reform and one hopes politicians across the aisle support an initiative to fix the core problems post these elections.

So till we have a new Corporation arrangement in place (our city finals), what can we wish for from the BBMP council that takes charge next week? Clearly, the current model of a monolith BBMP is too big to succeed for 1 crore citizens spread over 709 sq kms.  We could re-construct the way they organize themselves within the BBMP council. We could have 10 zones drawn up more scientifically and ward Corporators within a zone become part of Zonal councils that meet frequently. The  Standing Committees can be reduced to 2 or 3. The Zonal JCs can be empowered rather than continue with a centralized Commissioner system.

The ward committees should be set up in an organized manner with local citizen representatives and their roles and responsibilities clearly articulated. A coordination committee to work with the other government agencies could be set up  at the Central level. If we implement some of these mini-reforms, we stand a chance at better outcomes.  A final thought. Given the low buzz and consequently low spend by candidates in the run up to this election, it is likely that the incoming Council would have spent the least amount of money to get  elected. Maybe we can dare hope that the incoming council might actually give us better governance or is there no limit to human greed?     
 

‘Choose someone who has a record of service’

Katyayini Chamaraj, executive trustee, CIVIC

Actually, even if restructuring is done and BBMP is divided into multiple independent municipalities, the council should not be dissolved. The upcoming council must be redrawn and be distributed. Although the Supreme Court and high court have said that polls must be held based on the recent census, it is sad that elections are held based on 2001 census. Where is the justification? Since the state government is was dilly dallying the court directed it to go ahead with the existing data on population.

Even if the new council is dissolved again, the city or the municipality should not be kept in vacuum for more than six months. Elections must be declared within that period. The people in the city are looking for a change. It is unfortunate that Aam Aadmi Party is not contesting this time. However, there are good candidates from Loksatta party as an alternative. People should not choose those candidates who had offered them money, but candidates should be elected based on their record of service.

It is true that people are cynical about their problems getting solved. However, it is in their hands to choose better candidates, form resident welfare associations and strengthen them to shape the future of politics.

‘Elections are held only to honour Supreme court’s order’

Prithvi Reddy, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson

Both legislative house and council havepassed the restructuring of Bengaluru billand it is pendingbefore Governor. The Governor had rejected it once and now it’s merely a formality that it will get his nod. Elections are held only to honour Supreme Court and high court’s order. This kind of poll is meaningless and wasteful expenditure of public money as the council will be dissolved sooner or later. Law Minister has already clarified that there is no relationship between polls and restructuring.

This time people have no choice but to choose between the same faces from same old parties. There is cynicism among the people because they are being forced to choose between the devil and deep sea. Election has become more a sort of auction.