The date of BBMP polls fixed by the State Election Commission (SEC) has sparked off a debate. With the poll percentage being dismal, citizens’ groups argue the polls should be scheduled during the weekend to ensure better turn out.
N. Mukund from Citizens’ Action Forum told The Hindu that he had written to the SEC urging the commission to schedule the polls on a Sunday. “What is the use of holding elections during the weekday? Many work in the unorganised and private sectors. How will they vote?” he asked.
Meanwhile, sources in SEC point out that in the BBMP polls in 2010, the poll percentage was just 44 per cent though it was held on a Sunday. “Nonetheless, we will write to the government to declare Tuesday, the poll day, a holiday. The government had declared a holiday for the recent gram panchayat elections,” a source pointed out.
Rajajinagar MLA S. Suresh Kumar said the government must announce a common holiday under Negotiable Instruments on poll day. He, however, said if Tuesday is declared holiday, citizens may apply for leave on Monday for an extended holiday.
