K’taka BJP launches SIR outreach campaign, unveils ‘Maha Samparka Abhiyan’ poster

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Karnataka BJP on Wednesday unveiled the logo and poster for its two-day ‘SIR Maha Samparka Abhiyan’ and announced that it will carry out a statewide outreach campaign on July 25 and 26 to assist voters with the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Speaking at a press conference at the BJP’s state headquarters, Jagannath Bhavan in Bengaluru, SIR campaign convenor and BJP Cells State Coordinator S. Dattatri said party workers would visit households across the state to create awareness about the enumeration process, address voters’ concerns and facilitate the filling and submission of forms through Booth Level Agent (BLA)-2 representatives.

Dattatri said the party has set a target for each key party worker to visit 20 households as part of the SIR Maha Samparka Abhiyan.

He said BJP workers would visit homes across Karnataka, enquire about the status of enumeration forms and coordinate with Booth Level Agents (BLA)-2 to facilitate the submission of forms.

“We have instructed our workers to visit 10 houses a day and spend around 50 minutes interacting with residents. They will explain what happens after the publication of the draft electoral roll and provide information on the documents that may be sought by the Election Commission,” Dattatri said.

He added that mapping exercises have already been completed and party workers have been asked to share available information with BLA-2 representatives.

Dattatri said BJP has been training its office-bearers and workers on the SIR process for the past six months. “In addition, one person has been appointed in charge of each Assembly constituency to oversee SIR-related activities,” he said.

Stating that one of the major objectives of the campaign is to clear confusion among voters, Dattatri said filling out the enumeration form has become a matter of concern for many electors.

“There is still confusion and anxiety among voters regarding the enumeration forms despite training initiatives. It is our responsibility to provide them with accurate information. Under the guidance of state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, we have implemented a special plan to reach as many households as possible,” he said.

According to him, legislators, former MLAs, former Zilla Panchayat members and former Legislative Council members will also participate in the campaign.

Dattatri said the BJP has appointed around 56,000 BLA-2 representatives across the state’s 224 Assembly constituencies and submitted their details to the Election Commission. “The information has already been uploaded,” he said.

He noted that Karnataka has a total of 59,050 polling stations and clarified that the maximum number of BLA-2 appointments possible is equal to the number of polling booths.

BJP State General Secretary P. Rajeev, SIR campaign co-convenor Shyamala H.S., and BJP Mahila Morcha State Office Secretary Rajani Pai were present at the press conference.

–IANS

mka/dpb

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BCs won 61 per cent seats in Telangana municipal elections

Hyderabad, Feb 18 (IANS) Backward Classes have won more than 61 per cent seats in the recently held municipal elections in Telangana.

Though the 28.22 per cent of wards in municipalities and 35.25 per cent divisions in municipal corporations were reserved for, BCs secured 61 per cent wards and divisions.

BC Commission Chairman G. Niranjan and members Rapolu Jayaprakash, Tirumalagiri Surender, and Balalakshmi Rangu expressed happiness over the fact that BCs won a big number of seats. They said that it is a clear indication of the increased awareness among BC communities.

Elections to 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations were held on February 11 and the results were announced on February 13.

In the recently held Panchayat elections, BC candidates won 52.75 per cent seats. These include even the general category seats.

They expressed hope that in the upcoming elections to Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs), Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), and other corporations, BCs will win in large numbers.

In the comprehensive survey conducted in the state, it was found that BCs constitute 56.33 per cent of the population.

Although the State Assembly passed a Bill for providing 42 per cent reservation for BCs, it is still pending approval with the Centre.

BC Commission Chairman and members said some people approached the courts to prevent the implementation of 42 per cent reservation.

Considering the seats won by BCs in the recently held Panchayat elections and the municipal elections, the BC Commission wish that the Central government give its approval for the implementation of 42 per cent reservations, by including it in the 9th Schedule.

They also requested those who have filed cases in the courts to withdraw the same to make a smooth way for the implementation of the 42 per cent reservation.

–IANS

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Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari asks officials to curb wasteful expenditure

Kolkata, May 11 (IANS) In his first meeting with departmental secretaries of the West Bengal government, the new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday directed the top bureaucrats in the state to focus strictly on eliminating wasteful expenditure to ease pressure on the cash-strapped exchequer inherited by the new government.

He also instructed departmental secretaries not to use the tagline “inspired by the Chief Minister” in any state government hoarding, advertisement or plaque, which had been a signature phrase during the previous Trinamool Congress-ruled Mamata Banerjee-led government.

“I request all of you to operate freely without thinking of pleasing me. There is no need to write ‘inspired by the Chief Minister’ anywhere just to please me. We must ensure that government money, which is public money, is not wasted. We must spend it where it is needed. But we must prevent unnecessary and wasteful expenditure. At the same time, start working to implement the centrally-sponsored schemes in the state, which had not been implemented so far,” said a bureaucrat present at the meeting, quoting the Chief Minister.

At the same time, the bureaucrat added that CM Adhikari also assured departmental secretaries that the new ruling dispensation would not unnecessarily interfere in or attempt to influence the functioning of the government machinery, unlike the previous regime.

“So, there is nothing to worry about. Work fearlessly and work for the development of the state,” the bureaucrat quoted Adhikari as saying.

Political observers feel that Adhikari’s instructions, especially regarding the removal of the tagline “inspired by the Chief Minister”, are an extension of his earlier commitment that he would lead the state administration through collective leadership instead of taking all decisions single-handedly and imposing them on the administration.

Earlier in the day, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president in West Bengal and the party’s Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya also promised non-interference by the party in the functioning of the state administration.

“The state government will function in its own way. The connection between the state government and the party will ensure the smooth implementation of the promises made in the pre-election Sankalp Patra. The new government will be the ‘West Bengal Government’ and not a ‘BJP government’. That is our promise,” Bhattacharya told media persons earlier in the day.

–IANS

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6-7 Maoists killed in another encounter in Andhra Pradesh

Visakhapatnam, Nov 19 (IANS) Six to seven Maoists, including top leaders, were killed in a fresh exchange of fire between Maoists and police in Andhra Pradesh’s Alluri Sitharamaraju district on Wednesday.

The encounter took place in the Meredumilli forest area, where top Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, his wife and four other Maoists were killed on Tuesday, police sources said.

All the slain Maoists are believed to be from Chhattisgarh.

Nineteen Maoists had escaped during Tuesday’s encounter, and the security forces were continuing the combing operation in the area and the exchange of fire on Wednesday morning is said to be a continuation of the same.

Some top Maoist leaders are believed to have been killed in the latest exchange of fire.

Additional Director General of Police (Intelligence) Mahesh Chandra Laddha confirmed the exchange of fire during a press conference in Vijayawada. He said the exchange of fire was continuing. “The details are awaited,” he said.

Following intelligence that Maoists from Chhattisgarh and Telangana were trying to enter Andhra Pradesh, the intelligence network was keeping a continuous watch on their movements.

“Based on specific information, an operation was launched on Monday. An exchange of fire took place in the ASR district on the morning of November 18 in which CPI (Maoist) Central Committee member Hidma and five other Maoists were neutralised,” he said.

The intelligence chief said in continuation of that, 50 Maoists were arrested in NTR, Krishna, Eluru, Kakinada and Konaseema districts on Tuesday. Those arrested include three special zonal committee members, 23 platoon members, five divisional committee members and 19 area committee members.

Mahesh Chandra Laddha said that while making the arrests, the police ensured that no harm was caused to the general public.

“Probably, for the first time in history that we could arrest such a large number of Maoists, including important cadres,” he said.

He revealed that a large cache of arms and explosives was recovered from the arrested Maoists. He termed the security operation a major success by the Andhra Pradesh police.

The ADG, along with SPs, IGs and commissioners of the five districts, addressed a press conference at the Command Control Centre in Vijayawada to reveal the details of the arrests.

–IANS

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