Bhopal: During the elections, one gets to see the worst and the best part of candidates and parties. In this season of civic polls, there are several interesting factors , which strengthen the warp and weft of democracy.
Mohammed Ashraf, in his 30s is a BMC corporator candidate with a marked difference. He is going it alone, literally. On a minimal budget, he drives his own SUV fitted with a loudspeaker. Power windows and power steering, ease his drive through ward 22 (Ginnouri). Unless told, one might assume he is canvassing for someone else. He has recorded his own voiceover with an unmissable appeal to vote for his symbol, hockey ball. For the novice, typical dialect it sounds ‘Haaki-ball’. When he is not contesting elections, he is singing bhajans in Devi Jagran and Sundar Kand at people’s homes and institutions(as mentioned on his pamphlet)
Surveillance matters
In the previous BMC polls, making the Bhopal smart and digital was the favourite pitch. This time around, candidates are pitching to install more CCTV cameras in their wards to enhance security. Street lights or better traffic movement is not on the agenda or radar. Bhopal is already a city with monitoring and response control centre, smart city ITMS. Also, police has over 153 locations covered with close to 1000 cameras, some with face detection technology. In a UN backed survey of 2019, 96% women respondents in Bhopal rated sale of drugs/alcohol in the vicinity as the most important reason for feeling unsafe.
Personalised attention
Both mayoral candidates are yet to appear in a rally joined by their sitting MLAs , so the focus for now is on meeting the voterspersonally in colonies and gated commuties. Sources say, 13 wards have been given to each of the MLAs – a task that has stretched them bit too much to come together in a joint show of strength. BJP has a star candidate in form of CM Chouhan who has galvanized support with rallies for the BJP. The Congress is perhaps, saving the best for last.
Mohammed Ashraf, in his 30s is a BMC corporator candidate with a marked difference. He is going it alone, literally. On a minimal budget, he drives his own SUV fitted with a loudspeaker. Power windows and power steering, ease his drive through ward 22 (Ginnouri). Unless told, one might assume he is canvassing for someone else. He has recorded his own voiceover with an unmissable appeal to vote for his symbol, hockey ball. For the novice, typical dialect it sounds ‘Haaki-ball’. When he is not contesting elections, he is singing bhajans in Devi Jagran and Sundar Kand at people’s homes and institutions(as mentioned on his pamphlet)
Surveillance matters
In the previous BMC polls, making the Bhopal smart and digital was the favourite pitch. This time around, candidates are pitching to install more CCTV cameras in their wards to enhance security. Street lights or better traffic movement is not on the agenda or radar. Bhopal is already a city with monitoring and response control centre, smart city ITMS. Also, police has over 153 locations covered with close to 1000 cameras, some with face detection technology. In a UN backed survey of 2019, 96% women respondents in Bhopal rated sale of drugs/alcohol in the vicinity as the most important reason for feeling unsafe.
Personalised attention
Both mayoral candidates are yet to appear in a rally joined by their sitting MLAs , so the focus for now is on meeting the voterspersonally in colonies and gated commuties. Sources say, 13 wards have been given to each of the MLAs – a task that has stretched them bit too much to come together in a joint show of strength. BJP has a star candidate in form of CM Chouhan who has galvanized support with rallies for the BJP. The Congress is perhaps, saving the best for last.