Zameer looks to make it 5 in a row in Chamarajpet

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Congress MLA from Chamarajpet Zameer Ahmed Khan appears to be cruising to yet another victory in his stronghold despite gathering some anti-incumbency in the past four terms representing the segment.

This time around, BJP has fielded former city police commissioner Bhaskar Rao, hoping to pry away the “safe seat” from the Grand Old Party. Contesting on a JD(S) ticket is C Govindaraju. A logistics baron synonymous with National Travels, Zameer takes advantage of the concentration of his “traditional support base” in the seat.

Rao belongs to neighbouring Basavangudi and had been the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from his “home seat” until March 1 when he jumped ship to BJP. He hopes that his popularity as a former top cop will pay dividends. Many Chamarajpet voters, however, seem satisfied with their sitting MLA. Mohammad Salahuddin said that Zameer was inclusive, which ensured he remained popular.

“He is a secular leader. He takes along all communities and has done good work here,” he said. He cited the MLA’s accessibility and works such as roads, drains and bringing drinking water to homes as positives. He conceded that the constituency ought to be cleaner.

Others said drinking water from Cauvery was infrequent. “We get it on alternate days and it comes between 5 and 8:30 in the morning and not with great pressure. Borewells are a relief, however,” Asghar said.

Eidgah maidan row simmered down?

Back in September last year, the Supreme Court had denied permission to erect a Ganesha pandal in the Chamarajpet Eidgah maidan after right wing ideologues threatened to do so.

Locals agreed that since the issue was not hot in the pan, it wouldn’t swing votes. Ishwar, who is an auto-driver, said that he didn’t find Zameer to be accessible and found him to be someone he noticed only when polls draw near. “Our corporation water has a stink to it,” he added.

Narayana said that it would help if there was a government hospital and a school near his house which was just off Goods Shed Road, but fell under Chamarajpet segment.

Rao senses victory

Rao seemed supremely confident of a win in the constituency, declaring that even Muslims would vote for him even on a BJP ticket. “I am going to win because people are sick of him. Even Muslims are going to vote for me,” he said.

“People want a change. Infrastructure hasn’t developed well there. Present MLA has no knowledge. Smart city projects also just lay there. He has done nothing. For what reason should he be reelected? Give me five years. You have given him 18 years,” he added. The BJP leader also touted his “clean image” as an alternative to Zameer’s various cases.