Printed copies of electoral rolls with photographs affixed to it will be in use from next June wherein the voter can be permitted to vote after seeing the photograph in the electoral roll, informed Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao.

Speaking at the MCC election ‘chintana koota’ organised under the joint aegis of Election Vigilance Committee and St Aloysius Institute of Social Work at St Aloysius College Hall on Thursday, he said all political parties must arrive at an acceptable process of conducting elections.

However, involvement of citizens as well as representatives is necessary to solve innumerable problems being faced by the district, he said. Though intellectual debates and discussions take place with regard to issues, whether it is being translated into action is questionable, he added.

Representatives of all political parties aspiring to contest MCC elections, including Congress, Marxist party, BJP, Samajwady Party and JD(S), responding to the questions posed by the Election Vigilance Committee, assured that they will not use plastic buntings and publicity materials, huge cut-outs and banners, loud speakers or indulge in extravagant expenditure.

JD(S) District President Balraj Rai said if his party wins the election, they will convert Mangalore into a model city. It will ensure 24 hour water supply and will work towards checking corruption. He said the party will solve all problems being faced by the public.

BJP City President Sathish Prabhu said if the party comes to power in the MCC elections, it will use all possible grants for asphaltation of roads and for making it pothole free. A new vented dam will be constructed to ensure 24 hour water supply in the City. Moreover, the party will make arrangements for parking facility for vehicles apart from making scientific underground drainages,, he added.

Samajwady Party District Secretary S P Changappa said for the MCC elections, house-to-house campaigning is the best option as the jurisdiction of MCC is quite limited. Hence, the necessity of making huge expenditure on publicity materials can be avoided. The district administration must pass an order banning use of plastic, he urged. If the party is voted to power, a quality committee will be constituted to ensure high standard of works including providing storm water drains for all concretised roads, he claimed.

CPI State Executive Committee member B Madhav said the party will strive to inculcate civic sense among the citizens in the City. It will oppose vacation of street vendors and will not be biased against the poor, he added.
Representative of the Congress Party Prabhakar too assured effective management of waste, good roads, drainages and 24-hour water supply in the City.