BBMP will be ours: Ashok

BBMP will be ours: Ashok

November 16th, 2009
By Our Correspondent
Tags: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike ((BBMP)., R. Ashok


Bengaluru, Nov. 15: Transport minister, R. Ashok who is considered the crisis manager of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurapa by many, is not too worried about the recent rumblings in the party and is confident the BJP will emerge as the single largest entity in the forthcoming polls to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Palike ((BBMP). In an interview with N.B. Hombal after inducting 380 buses into the BMTC's fleet on Saturday, the Vokkaliga strongman claimed that Mr Yeddyurappa’s initiatives for the development of Bengaluru in the last 17 months would be enough to win them the BBMP. Excerpts.
When do you plan to hold the polls to BBMP? The civic body has been functioning without elected representatives for more than three years? Are you afraid of the polls?
Why should we be afraid of anything? We will hold the elections once we are through with the ward reservation process and other formalities.
In the current circumstances with BJP just having overcome a serious crisis, are your party workers prepared to face voters in the city?
See, whatever happened in the party recently, has certainly dented our image but not to the extent which the media has portrayed. Minor differences do creep into any large family and it has happened in BJP as well. Our workers are ready for the elections and are not shying away from them.
If the party is so confident, when will the elections be announced?
It would not be right to say anything on the calendar of events for the poll which has to be announced by the state election commission. I feel the commission will announce the calendar in the first week of January.
You seem confident of facing the electorate despite the recent political crisis and the fact that your party has litle to show by way of achievements of the BJP government?
What do you mean when you say we have not achieved anything significant? Roads have been relaid, flyovers have been completed, street lights have been repaired, parks have been built in several residential localities. Namma Metro’s first phase will be inaugurated next year while BMTC has introduced several new services.
How were you involved in the political crisis?
Not a single BJP legislator from Bengaluru was associated with any group as they were busy in their constituencies redressing people’s problems.
It helped us protect the party’s image though I do have to admit it was dented to an extent in flood-hit north Karnataka.
Although the BJP leadership succeeded in working out a compromise between the warring camps, people still think BJP is a divided house with the truce likely to be broken any time.
Our leaders know how to tackle such problems. Ours is a national party with disciplined workers. All differences have been ironed out. Be it the Reddy brothers or Mr Yeddyurappa or anyone else for that matter, they will have to fall in line.
I am sure the party will resurrect itself with a slew of developmental projects in the city before the elections.