This Article is From Aug 18, 2015

Bengaluru Lakes Continue to Froth Ahead of Civic Elections

Froth on the Yamur Lake in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: If commuting in Bengaluru was not bad enough, with its heavy traffic, bad roads and slow progress, what about having to drive through flying forth from a polluted lake. At the Yamur Lake, right next to the city's biggest lake, Bellandur, there is still plenty of foam.

While citizens live in hope of a better administered city with civic polls scheduled for Saturday, some problems do seem perennial.

But hope springs eternal, and it is time for voters to look seriously at the candidates who want to become their next corporator. The Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC), a citizen's group working for better governance in the city, hopes to make that job easier by endorsing candidates who they think will make a positive difference.

"We have looked at candidates from 81 wards. We have chosen these 81 wards because they have a large middle class constituency which is our constituency. We are a party of the urban educated middle class and in this we endorsed 50 candidates... they should not have criminal charges against them, charges of harassment, abuse of women and children...no pending corruption cases or misuse of public office, and good public record," BPAC vice president Mohandas Pai told NDTV.

"50 candidates have been chosen - the Congress has 18, the BJP 21, JDS two, Lok Satta two or three and six independents. We will appeal to the voters of Bangalore to look at these candidates when they go and vote. Only an appeal. They have to decide. Each one of them will give Rs 50,000 for the election campaign," Mr Pai added.

Filthy lakes, corrupt corporators - a lot depends on the citizens themselves. It is easy to point fingers and blame someone else, but it is important for the ordinary citizen to get out there and vote to get the corporator they deserve.
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