Only if we vote will we get a better Bangalore

Only if we vote will we get a better Bangalore
Stable Government Will Mean Responsive Administration
Jayanth Kodkani | TNN


You can almost see it coming — the unhappy odds of a fractured verdict as some parties rub their hands in glee and declare that they will be key players in the formation of a new government in Karnataka later this month.
This dampener reminds us of the forty months since 2004 when we saw a farcical 20-20 arrangement in which puppetry took over governance. A Twenty20 match with no cheerleaders and a self-styled kingmaker as the umpire.
Yet, Bangaloreans hope things would be different this time around. The delimitation exercise has ensured an additional 12 seats taking the tally to 28 — one-eighth of the total constituencies representing the assembly. That very arithmetic has prompted the Congress and the BJP to chart out a separate vision document for Bangalore.
The general deterioration of public services and infrastructure over the last few years has left the citizen fretting and fuming. But ironically, the more aware he is of issues, the more cynical the urban voter seems to be of the democratic process. All of which may lead to the vicious cycle of another apathetic set-up.
Indeed, if we don’t want to see the spectacle of Shylockian political entities demand their pound of flesh, a decisive mandate would be a must. That route leads to the polling booth. Not all of us can go out onto the streets and fix a leaking pipe or supervise the laying of a new road. But we could help choose one who would do it for us. The yuppies of the growing middle class — bred on the market and not the state — might prefer an administrative model that is more corporate. But it is popular governments that run the show.
Party polarisation is a factor that cannot be wished away, but a discerning electorate can bolster parties that focus on larger concerns. It is this decision that would be vital and numbers would count. As pollsters would vouch, even a small shift in voting percentage can make a difference. We wouldn’t have to jog our memory too much to go back to the Chamundeshwari by-election in December 2006 which Siddaramaiah won by a slim margin of 257 votes.
While the delimitation exercise has recognised changing demography, it has brought in another dimension to our franchise by giving value to our vote. No longer do we have an imbalance of the past like Uttarahalli constituency which had over 13 lakh voters and another, one-fourth its size. In the redrawn map, most constituencies have an average of over 2 lakh voters. And so, the value of the vote would not vary.
Bangaloreans would gravitate towards a party that serves the city’s interests. Never has that been more urgent. Just for that, it’s worthwhile going to vote on May 10. Even if it means skipping a siesta or a round of golf.
VOTE WORTH
Helps create an agenda for better public services and infrastructure Usher in political stability and ensure responsive administration Shun the spectacle of opportunism, leading to administrative apathy The value of votes is almost equal in the redrawn constituencies
TOP ISSUES
Bengaluru International Airport; set to commence operations Namma Metro, scheduled for a 2010 launch Hosur Road expressway from Silk Board Junction to E-city BDA’s five residential layouts; notification out on one Peripheral Ring Road, to be developed by NHAI; paperwork is on High-speed rail link connecting city centre to Devanahalli BBMP’s series of underpasses at major junctions Elevated corridor from Hebbal to Yelahanka BBMP’s roads over drains, covering about 21 km The Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan (CTTP) for city
DANCE OF
DEMOCRACY
What are Bangaloreans looking in their leaders Comparison of Congress and BJP’s promises for Bangalore Trade bodies’ expectations TO THE POINT: T