WHO SHOULD BE THE MINISTER FOR BANGALORE? WHY?

WHO SHOULD BE THE MINISTER FOR BANGALORE? WHY?
‘We need someone with clear vision’ And a majority of readers think that person is S Suresh Kumar, closely followed by R Ashok

S Suresh Kumar is the ideal choice
Suresh Kumar is better for Bangalore as he can help in improving the city. I VIA SMS
S Suresh Kumar — he was a two-time corporator and MLA. He has a clear vision for Greater Bangalore. I VIA SMS
For all-round development, Suresh Kumar is the best. I P K V SUBBAIAH
Bangalore should get a vibrant, dynamic minister who knows the ills plaguing the city and who already has sufficient administrative experience earlier. R Ashok seems to fulfil the criteria. He should plan and organize various developmental committees consisting of eminent personalities who are experienced and have the zeal and commitment towards service. Good bureaucrats of yesteryear, technocrats who have served in the government should be empanelled and involved actively. All aspects of development — law& order, tourism, health care delivery, etc, should be considered. I H V PRASAD
S Suresh Kumar should be the minister for Bangalore. He is honest and understands the problems of Bangalore and finds solutions for them. He talks less and shows quick results which is the need of the hour. This is what the citizens of Bangalore are eagerly waiting for from the BJP.
I D S RAO
Suresh Kumar or R Ashok because they are the only two ministers touring rain-hit areas in Bangalore while all others are busy lobbying for key portfolios. Moreover, we met R Ashok during election time and he appears quite sincere. I AKSRAO
Suresh Kumar, MLA of Rajajinagar constituency, is my choice since he has a clear vision for Bangalore’s development. Also, he is people friendly. I M N KESARI
Suresh Kumar is the right choice for he was a councillor and MLA previously and has the potential and a good reputation. He is also in touch with other civic bodies and emphasizes development. He has already started visiting flooded areas which shows his calibre. Given a chance, he can come up with a good solution for Bangalore. I TARUN K JAIN
Those residing in Bangalore know the deficiencies in civic amenities and other difficulties. Any enthusiastic BJP MLA residing in Bangalore can be asked to look after that ministry. However, I feel Suresh Kumar, the BJP MLA, is the ideal person for this task. BJP’s future prospects and popularity lie on achieving the results successfully. I S SUNDARA
Suresh Kumar, the minister in the present cabinet maybe entrusted with the work related to the development of Bangalore. As the MLA of Rajajinagar constituency, he has been endeavouring to improve amenities of Bangalore. He has a good image as a legislator as well. I CHANDRASHEKHAR NAIK
Suresh Kumar is the ideal minister as he is moderately educated, and is personally dashing with an excellent rapport with BBMP mandarins. The financial wizard commissioner and his retinue should be packed forthwith to the Slum Board to make it financially viable. The seven CMCs and their lone cousin TMC should be separated from BBMP as, collectively, it has enhanced Bangalore area to 840 sq miles, making it unmanageable. S Sadagopan, director IIIT-B, should be
invited specially to devise chips to manage BBMP. The minister should send monthly progress reports to the CM. Several departments like engineering, storm-water drain department, revenue audit accounts should get a vigorous shaking. I R GURU RAO
A person with a clear local vision will be ideal to become minister for Bangalore. Besides, he should be enthusiastic to solve the burning problems of Bangalore with a corruption-free mind and a clean record. Local ministers, either Suresh Kumar or R Ashok will be the deserving person to hold the rank. I P A SUKUMARAN
R Ashok fits the bill
R Ashok as he is charismatic and popular in Bangalore and also knows all the problems of this place and its people. Most importantly, he is accessible to one and all. I M S SOORI
R Ashok should be the minister for Bangalore since he has already served as health minister in the previous government and knows the problems faced by Bangaloreans. I RAJU
When asked to select a minister for Bangalore, R Ashok seems to be the automatic choice. He already held the portfolio and is familiar with the problems facing Bangalore. And, under the guidance of B S Yeddyurappa, any Tom, Dick or Harry will function well. It’s not just the minister who is important, but the entire team that is to be counted upon. I D R PRAKASH
Bangalore is a rapidly growing city with rapidly growing problems as well. Hence, a minister for Bangalore needs to be a person with a vision. To solve the myriad problems beleaguering Bang a l o re the minister has to be a p e r s o n who is dynamic, quick thinking and someone with great foresight. R Ashok who has been elected from Padmanabhanagar and who is a four-time MLA and has also been a minister on three earlier occasions, comes close to fitting the bill. As a resident of Bangalore and with a long innings in politics, he has a wealth of experience and appears to have the tenacity to grapple with the problems of the city. I USHA G RAO
R Ashok is my choice. In the manifesto, the BJP has promised to make Bangalore a world-class city and under R Ashok, Metropolitan Learning Council can be formed. He has also promised to review or amend Capital Value System tax which has been subject to lot of criticism by trade and resident associations. He is young and energetic. He has already been the Bangalore minister, he has the required experience and expertise to handle the problems of Bangalore. I SAJJAN RAJ MEHTA
I would want R Ashok to be the minister of Bangalore. I ANIL KUMAR
Yeddyurappa should take over
The CM should himself retain this portfolio with an advisory committee of three non-political specialists. I SWAMY
It should be the CM as Bangalore’s infrastructure needs the highest authority to take decisions. I VIA SMS
As there is no eligible candidate in the BJP ministry, Yeddyurappa should hold the post for some time at least. I MANU NAIR
The BJP’s Save Bangalore mantra is apt. Bangalore now really needs a visionary with a mission. Such a person should have focus, a vision for development, be keen and selfless but ambitious.
The person who fits the bill is none other than B S Yeddyurappa. He has, for sure, all the qualities. The task, however, is herculean but not impossible. It is surely not a one-man task. It’s time other ministerial colleagues joined the CM in saving Bangalore. I P V PRAKASH
Other alternatives
M Krishnappa of Bangalore South should be minister for Bangalore as he has won with a big lead of 35,000 votes. Also, he is extremely concerned about the poor. I VIA SMS
We need a minister with a vision and who will sincerely work towards improving Bangalore. I N B VISHWANATH
I prefer C T Ravi as minister for Bangalore since he is young, energetic, dynamic and sincere about his work. I VIMALA KESARI
What a minister for Bangalore can do
Leadership skills to mobilize task groups into action Ability to devise long-term and short-term plans Accessibility to the public; dedicated phone/ e-mail contacts Technology-savvy; open to talks with civic groups, industry Periodical meetings to review progress of works; timeline follow-ups Efficient support team with knowledge of situation on the ground Ability to cut across party lines; association with other party MLAs Focus on problem areas; inspections to address issues like encroachment Core group involving members of civic agencies and the police Association with corporates, resident groups on development programmes A face of Brand Bangalore who could tap investment potential Closer association with the police in the drive against corruption The Top Choices

Suresh Kumar
There are three-four issues which need immediate attention. People are suffering daily due to traffic problems and connectivity has gained importance than ever. In coordination with BBMP and BDA, all ongoing road and other infrastructure projects will be completed and new projects taken up. I will remove all traffic bottlenecks and streamline public transport, like running mini buses in the central business district. The existing systems, like ring road, will be utilized better. Another issue is drinking water, which needs to be addressed on a war footing. It is a matter of shame that the IT city has no adequate potable water for all its citizens. Storm-water drains and sewerage system will be streamlined and bettered. For the urban poor, sale deeds will be issued and all attempts will be made to ensure they have better housing facilities.
Age: 53 Qualification: BSc, LLB Experience: Twice corporator in 1983 and 1990 and thrice MLA, 1994, 1999 and 2008, from Bangalore. Constituency: Rajajinagar


R Ashok
Traffic and flooding are the biggest problems the city is facing. For Bangaloreans, rain means fear. All efforts will be made to find a solution to these two problems. With each passing day, the city is losing lung spaces like parks and playgrounds. I will create two lungspaces, on the lines of Lalbagh, in Bangalore North and South. Each park with around 300 acres will be formed in Banashankari and between the international airport and Hebbal. Women and senior citizens are reeling under fear. Policing will be strengthened to ensure they live in peace. Ensuring peaceful existence without fear will be my mantra.
Age: 51 Qualification: BSc Experience: Student leader and MLA four times — 1994, 1999, 2004 and 2008 — from Bangalore. During this period, he was a minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government. Constituency: Padmanabhanagar
The Others
B S Yeddyurappa C T Ravi M Krishnappa Mumtaz Ali Khan