Some four weeks before the State Legislative Assembly polls, voters of A. Narayanapura ward in Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will to choose their local representative in the bypoll to the civic authority. The disqualification of their representative S.S. Prasad has necessitated the April 7 bypoll.
According to the calendar of events announced by the BBMP in Bangalore on Wednesday, the ward has been reserved for candidates belonging to Backward Classes (A) category.
Mr. Prasad’s election was declared invalid after the Supreme Court found him guilty of submitting a fake caste certificate. The case was initially filed in the City Civil Court by Mr. Prasad’s opponent, who lost by a small margin. The court found that Mr. Prasad had submitted a fake caste certificate to contest in the election. However, Mr. Prasad appealed against the court order in the High Court of Karnataka and Supreme Court to no avail.
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It may be recalled that Mr. Prasad was the chairperson of the BBMP’s Standing Committee for Appeals last year. Sources in the BBMP said that the election code of conduct was now in force in the ward, since the calendar of events has been announced. It will be in force till April 10, when all the election processes are likely to end.