BBMP Council Elections: Woman constable sets precedent, quits job to contest polls

JM Savitha, a woman police constable, quit her job to contest the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Council elections from Srinagar ward, on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket. Not only is she the first police constable to contest the BBMP elections, but also the first woman constable to do so.

Speaking with iamin, Savitha said, “I have been working in the police department for the last 12 years. I had earned a good name and have no complaints against me during my 12-year stint. When I resigned from the job, all my colleagues and senior police officers blessed me and wished me success in the BBMP election.’’

Daughter of a BJP worker in Srinagar, Savitha joined the police department as a constable at Basavanagudi Women Police Station in 2003. After serving at the Women Police Station for four years, Savitha was posted to work in the Public Relations department at the Director General of Police Office. 

Generally, it is considered difficult to quit a secured job and jump into politics, especially since Savitha was accustomed to a 9 to 5 job for more than a decade, however, the Srinagar-resident is confident of doing well in this field as well. “I am not new to politics. With my father being a BJP loyal worker for the last 20 years, I had an opportunity to meet residents of Srinagar and have been patiently hearing out their woes. I am of the opinion that as a BBMP corporator I can serve more people than being able to do so as a police constable,’’ explained Savitha.

Savitha’s father Mayanna had contested the BBMP Council polls as a BJP candidate in 2010 but lost to JD(S) candidate T Thimme Gowda by 88 votes. Now, Srinagar ward has been reserved for women candidates only.

“I am focusing on door-to-door canvassing. I will meet all the residents of Srinagar and explain my plans for the development of Srinagar ward. I am confident of getting elected into the BBMP Council without any hassles,’’ she added.

Explaining that she was disappointed with the developmental work taken up during the last five years, Savitha said, “BBMP sanctioned Rs 1 crore for the development of a park but nothing has been done except putting up a fence around the park. Roads are in bad condition. Garbage has to be managed scientifically. The need of the hour is to open a government college as many students cannot afford to pursue higher education at private colleges. The other need is to build a maternity hospital and an anganwadi centre for the benefit of poor people in Srinagar ward,’’ she said.

For the longer version of the report, click here