Beyond BJP & Cong: Newer parties seek votes over civic issues

Bengaluru: Bengaluru's long-delayed civic polls may still lack a date, but newer political parties are already fanning out across the city, betting that frustration over potholes, waste and poor infrastructure could translate into votes.With the State Election Commission indicating that it is prepared to conduct elections for the five city corporations under Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), smaller and emerging parties are stepping up public outreach, identifying candidates and building ward-level networks.Bengaluru Navanirmana Party (BNP) plans to contest around 100 wards and says it is targeting at least 50 wins. Party founder and general secretary Srikanth Narasimhan said the party would field candidates across Bengaluru, though its presence remains stronger in the east and south."This is because our base of volunteers and leaders are from the region. However, we are also seeing new members joining from other parts," he said.Narasimhan said the party's structure encourages workers to stay involved at the grassroots instead of pursuing electoral posts. "In other parties, there are people who can win but are made to work. In BNP, it is the other way round," he said.Addressing questions over actor Sudha Belawadi being fielded from the Kengal Hanumanthaiah ward in JP Nagar, Narasimhan rejected suggestions of celebrity-driven politics. "She has been actively raising local issues. She is contesting not because she is a celebrity, but because she is the right candidate," he said.The Aam Aadmi Party, meanwhile, says it is seeing stronger traction in the west and central parts of the city. The party has received 125-130 applications from aspirants.Naveen Iyer, an aspirant from Rajajinagar, said the party was positioning itself as a clean-governance alternative to the BJP and Congress."Successive Congress and BJP govts have been indulging in corruption. AAP aims to change the system by giving opportunities to educated candidates, youngsters and women," he said.He added that party workers have been helping residents address civic grievances through platforms such as the BBMP Sahaaya app and by assisting citizens in navigating civic systems."Irrespective of when the elections will be held, we are working on civic issues. Bengaluru is being trolled globally; we want to restore its reputation as a Garden City by making each ward a model ward," he said.Another emerging player, the Karnataka Rashtra Samithi, said it had so far finalised 47 candidates through an internal selection process and hopes to field nominees in as many wards as possible.State president Deepak CN said the party was focusing on transparency, public participation and local governance."The city continues to struggle with basic issues such as waste management. With people's participation, better roads and infrastructure can be achieved through corruption-free governance," he said.Deepak added that the party had received a stronger response from Kannadiga-dominated pockets, particularly in south and west Bengaluru, in line with its emphasis on preserving Kannada cultural identity.