There is another ‘election’ coming up this weekend

Before you cast your vote on May 12, there is another poll coming up this weekend in Bengaluru. A mock poll, ‘Nanna Mata, Namma Hita’, organised by various citizen groups in the city under the banner of Citizens for Bengaluru (CfB), will ask you to vote not for a political party, but for your preference of demands for the citizens’ manifesto.

Instead of EVMs, there will be ballot boxes. Votes will be counted and results — the priority list of citizens, declared. Options on the ballot papers will include both #Beku and #Beda issues such as suburban rail, buses, flyovers, the preferred strategy for solid waste management, among others. The poll will be held at Town Hall on Saturday morning.

Sirinivas Alavilli of CfB said the mock poll is being organised to drive home two points — creating awareness among voters to vote, and telling political parties about the priorities of voters.

“The voter turnout in the city has always been low. In the 2013 Assembly polls, while the State saw a turnout of 70.2%, the city saw only 52.8%. This needs to change,” he said.

Apart from the voter turnout, civic activists are angry that none of the three major political parties talk about issues that citizens care for and have found place on the citizens’ charters.

“Apart from the citizens’ charter of CfB, there are over 20 such charters in the city, including a green manifesto, a runner’s manifesto, and charters released by several areas. But no party is running a campaign on these issues,” said Mr. Alavilli.

The CfB also held protests against Congress, BJP, and JD(S) for the delay in the release of their manifestos two weeks ago. While Congress released its manifesto, BJP and JDS are yet to do so.

Saturday’s mock poll will also see several celebrities participate along with civic activists and residents’ welfare associations.