<p>The stakes are high for the saffron party, which has its maiden government in the South, to ensure that its winning streak is stretched to the city corporation polls. The elections, due in 2006, is being held now after the corporation (then Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) was expanded from 100 wards to 198. Electronic voting machines would be used for the first time in the polls.<br /><br />Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his ministerial colleagues representing Bangalore City have been trying to woo the electorate highlighting government's development programme. The opposition, on the other hand, has slammed the government for its 'failure' to Central funds.<br /><br />The Congress, which was in power in the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) till 2006, deployed Central ministers-- S M Krishna, M Mallikarjun Kharge, M Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa for campaigning.<br /><br />Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, cricketer-turned politician Mohd Azharuddin also canvassed for Congress candidates in the city, an exercise that drew criticism from BJP. The JDS campaign, spearheaded by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, stressed that the party was not anti-Bangalore Development as was being alleged by BJP and Congress.<br /><br />The stir, launched by former Prime Minister and JDS chief, H D Deve Gowda, against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) project, apparently keeping an eye on BBMP wards on the city outskirts where farmers have lost their land to the project is likely to stand the JDS in good stead.<br /><br />There are 1342 candidates in 198 wards. BJP is contesting 197, Congress in 196 and JDS 195. The ruling party is holding the polls as per the directions of the High Court after its reported attempts to postpone the polls failed. </p>.<p><br />The authorities have set up 6,600 polling stations. About 30,000 police personnel will keep a watch on the poll process. The counting of votes will be on April 5.</p>
<p>The stakes are high for the saffron party, which has its maiden government in the South, to ensure that its winning streak is stretched to the city corporation polls. The elections, due in 2006, is being held now after the corporation (then Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) was expanded from 100 wards to 198. Electronic voting machines would be used for the first time in the polls.<br /><br />Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his ministerial colleagues representing Bangalore City have been trying to woo the electorate highlighting government's development programme. The opposition, on the other hand, has slammed the government for its 'failure' to Central funds.<br /><br />The Congress, which was in power in the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) till 2006, deployed Central ministers-- S M Krishna, M Mallikarjun Kharge, M Veerappa Moily and K H Muniyappa for campaigning.<br /><br />Union Health Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, cricketer-turned politician Mohd Azharuddin also canvassed for Congress candidates in the city, an exercise that drew criticism from BJP. The JDS campaign, spearheaded by former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, stressed that the party was not anti-Bangalore Development as was being alleged by BJP and Congress.<br /><br />The stir, launched by former Prime Minister and JDS chief, H D Deve Gowda, against Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) project, apparently keeping an eye on BBMP wards on the city outskirts where farmers have lost their land to the project is likely to stand the JDS in good stead.<br /><br />There are 1342 candidates in 198 wards. BJP is contesting 197, Congress in 196 and JDS 195. The ruling party is holding the polls as per the directions of the High Court after its reported attempts to postpone the polls failed. </p>.<p><br />The authorities have set up 6,600 polling stations. About 30,000 police personnel will keep a watch on the poll process. The counting of votes will be on April 5.</p>
