Rowdies get a democratic thrashing

“I’ll make Bangalore  another Singapore.” That was the promise hooch queen Marimuthu made throughout her spirited campaign in Sagayapuram.

The promise of another Singapore, apparently, did not appeal to the voters. When the results of the March 28 BBMP polls were announced on Monday, Marimuthu (pictured), once a notorious bootlegger, was left fuming. For, the voters had given their mandate to Palaniyammal V, sister of a notorious rowdy, Elumamalai.

Palaniyammal contested the polls on a Congress ticket, while Marimuthu tried her luck under the Janata Dal (Secular) flag.
Marimuthu was one among 20 odd anti-social elements who had contested – and lost – the polls to the BBMP. Two rowdies, however, made it to the Palike.

Mohammed Ali alias Diwan Ali, charged in as many as 20 criminal cases including murder and attempt to murder, won from Banashankari Temple ward on a JD (S) ticket. “I have won with the blessings from Goddess Banashankari,” was his first response after the result was announced.

Another anti-social element, who won the election, is Shakeel Ahmed, rowdysheeted in Shivajinagar,  with as many as 15 pending cases against him in various police stations. He represented the Congress in Bharathinagar.

Prominent among anti-social elements, who lost the race was V Nagaraj alias Bomb Naga. After failing to get a ticket from any political party, Nagaraj contested as an independent from Prakashnagar. He even fielded about eight others in as many wards, including his wife Lakshmi N in Cottonpet, where BJP’s Vasanth Kumari routed four others in the fray. 

“He fielded nearly eight candidates, as he could not get any party ticket. They include his wife, brother, sister-in-law and close associates. But none of them could win the elections,” police inspector VP Upadhya of Srirampuram said.

Meanwhile in Okalipuram, Queen Elezabeth C, wife of DJC Chakaravarthy alias Chakre, emerged victorious. Chakre has been facing criminal charges. “Chakre has undertaken several developmental activities during his tenure as a corporator. This helped his wife in winning the seat,” G Jnanesh, pro-Kannada activist, said.

Another contestant, Veena S, a transgender and vice-president of Karnataka Sex Workers’ Union, could not garner much support since she was a novice, he added. She was an Independent candidate, who during the campaign warned the voters, “If you sell your vote today, the elected corporator will make money later.”
VK Praveen, alias Malayalee Praveen, who tried his luck in Hembegowda Nagar, lost to D Chandrappa, an Independent candidate. Praveen was considered to be a threat to the ward, previously known as Wilson Garden. 

In Shivajinagar, voters preferred Farida, a demure and burqa-clad Independent candidate to others. Her husband Ishitaq, a former body builder, had earlier never thought twice before flexing his muscles, but reined in his wayward life nearly five years ago. “But two or three cases are still pending against me,” he said.
Notorious elements Ramanand alias Bullet Rama, a JD (S) candidate, Chandra Yadav (Cong) and Mouzam, (Independent) were among those who were defeated. 

Meanwhile, a pro-Muslim organisation, the Popular Front of India, won one seat from Mysore Road area. “Nazni Begum is considered as an Independent who won the elections from Padarayanapura ward. But she had the comfortable majority with the support of Popular Front of India and Karnataka Forum for Dignity, the two organisations that had been looked at by security agencies as potential security threats,” a senior police officer said.