The Deccan Chronicle 08.12.2009

BBMP polls to be held in February 2010

Dec. 7: Elections to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will be held on February 21, 2010, the State Election Commission announced on Monday. The maiden elections to BBMP were announced three years after the erstwhile Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council’s term ended.

Addressing a press conference State Election Commissioner C.R. Chikmath said the model code of conduct will come into effect from January 15 and BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena has been directed to issue the notification on February 1, 2010. The filing of nominations will begin from the next day, he said.

Mr also Chikmath released the handbook for polling agents and candidates. Amendments have been made to Karnataka Municipal Council (KMC) Act to use EVMs for the polls which will also have Braille inscriptions, he said. The ceiling on expenditure for each candidate has been fixed at Rs 5 lakh. Asked why there was so much time for code of conduct to come into effect, Mr Chikmath said the commission has fixed the date following the election to Legislative Council and took refuge under the provision that it enjoys under guidelines for moral code of conduct for candidates.

Log on to www.bbmpelections.info to get details on electoral roll and to find your name in the voters list.