HT Sangliana

HT Sangliana

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Bangalore Central is Guess-Work, Gossip and Suspense

BANGALORE, Apr 22 : Ever since the delimitation took place, Bangalore Central became the home-ground for election contestants eyeing the minority fold including Christians, Muslims and a great majority of dalits.

Of all the constituencies in Karnataka, Bangalore Central Constituency has perhaps received the largest space in the media, both print and electronic, for debates, discussions, guesswork and gossip on who would get elected to the 15th Lok Sabha in these elections. The media has given a fairly balanced portion to all three candidates to voice their promises and programmes. The trio who are contesting the elections have been media-branded as the Amar, Akbar, Antony (reminiscing Amitabh Bachan’s famous triple-act in the movie Amar Akbar, Antony) of Bangalore Central.

The first focus is on Congress fresher H T Sangliana who got the BJP party whip for voting over the Indo-US nuclear deal in favor of the UPA government and in defiance of BJP party orders. The second focus is on PC Mohan of the BJP who enjoys considerable support from primarily the Hindu community but hopes to garner support from the Christian and Muslim community as well. The third focus is on Zameer Khan of the Janatha Dal who, speculations have it, will grab a sizeable majority of Muslims to vote in his favour, as political analysts feel the Muslim electorate would invariably tilt in favour of a Muslim candidate.

The greater part of the suspense is over HT Sangliana as it is hard to guess if Sangliana’s joining the Congress has reduced his vote-count with BJP loyalists scorning his act. On the other hand, Sangliana’s long-standing track-record as bureaucrat and police officer has earned him sufficient mileage from both the youth populace and the proactive citizen. Sangliana also enjoys the support of non-party affiliates who feel he stood for principles in the interest of the nation more than party politics when he hit the button in parliament.

Sangliana also told media persons that the Muslim community were also happy with him while the Christian community will definitely vote him in though there are presumably, a small section of the Christian community who may be disappointed over his earlier association with the BJP. Not all in the Christian community see the BJP as communal. Christian party workers have supported the BJP in the past, though unsuccessful in getting a ticket to contest. Zameer, hailing from the Janata Dal lifts his scorecard over the large Muslim population in the constituency and in addition hope to have the vote swing in favour of his party, especially from voters who are probably unhappy with the BJP and the Congress.

In Bangalore Central, it is not going to be a tug-o-war because there are not just two ends to the rope. There are three.

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“I’m A Social Worker, Not a politician”

This supercop may have switched parties, but he says he is here only to serve the people. Bengaluru Central MP candidate Dr H T Sangliana spoke to Citizen Matters amidst the election frenzy.


By Vaishnavi Vittal


He is probably one of the few people who voted against the party diktat during the trust vote in Parliament in June 2008. This famous cop helped in the arrest of fake stamp paper racket kingpin Abdul Kareem Telgi and former underworld don Muthappa Rai among others, during his services as the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore City.

Films have been made based on his work in the Indian Police Service and he has also appeared in one of them, as himself, playing the role of the Police Commissioner. In the middle of his hectic campaigning schedule and with commandos in tow, Dr Hmar Tlomte Sangliana, former BJP MP, now contesting as a Congress candidate from Bangalore Central constituency, spoke to Citizen Matters ahead of the polls.

Vaishnavi Vittal: You have been talking to scores of voters, we’re sure. What have they been telling you about what they want you to do for them as an MP? Can you summarise that?
Dr H T Sangliana: The voters are mentioning about the water difficulties, in some areas they have not had water for as long as 25 days, it is really terrible. These are the womenfolk who are responsible for fetching water and they are getting up early n the morning, taking responsibility to get water for the entire family, cooking and washing and all, I really feel pity on them and I would propose to the government for solutions to this problem. There should be reservoirs along the rivers, where you can draw in the monsoon water. So if we have these giant reservoirs, all important places along the river side, should be able to feed any number of families in the city and elsewhere.

Then there are electricity problems. And roads, potholes and there is no quality. The contractors are making money. My constructions, you can see my website, it has been five years, not a single pothole has appeared. Electricity, bad roads condition and non-existence of roads and sanitation problems I have seen in a number of places. Every open place is a public latrine. School standard and school fees, they complained. They have to have free education. Private schools are exploiting these poor people. School has become an industry for many people. So these are main problems.

VV: We are still following the 1861 Police Act. Commissions and committees have been formed to bring about reforms. You were a top ranking police officer in the state and then later became an MP. What would you like to see changed about the police system?

HTS: Police system should strictly follow the police act and the police manual. The problem in India is we have more of quantity policemen than quality policemen. You understand?


I would like to see that police are independent, in the sense they should not be, day in and day out influenced by politicians have their own personal agenda in conducting policemen and police officers. So I think we should have certain mechanisms wherein any matter related to security, crime, etc., should be dealt with by the police without any preference. That is one thing.

Another area is that police selection has to be more carefully done which should have something to do with their moral standards, ethical standards and their spiritual standard also. I have been saying that if I have to select among two candidates for a police job, I would select one who has faith in god, who believes in god, who has the fear of god than one who doesn’t. That itself I feel will be able to decide the parameters of what can go right and what can go wrong.

When somebody doesn’t have any fear, he will not have, according to my belief, any compulsion or any kindness or willingness to understand the difficulties of people, or he may not even execute fairly his duties as a police officer. In my own situation I feel that respecting elders, fear of god and faith in god has possibly influenced my official life wherein I knew that god doesn’t want corruption or corrupt mind or corrupt practice. I faithfully try to be, as near as possible, to god. For example, in the scriptures there is a saying that ‘The fear of god is the beginning of wisdom’. This particular proverb is my life principle. So I used to say if I do something very wrong, god will punish me or god will not be happy and if god will not be happy, the natural consequence is that I will not go to heaven, I’ll go to rather hell. So that helped jump across many potholes of life.

Like this even in the police setup, if an officer has virtues like fear of god, faith in god and willingness to forgive and forget, willingness to share his love and affection with neighbours, citizens and if he is concerned about the problems of victims of crime, we can have an ideal policeman. So police selection has to be done very carefully, looking into all these human requirements to form an efficient, accountable, respectable, responsible, disciplined policeman which has not been done enough.

VV: There have been a spate of alarming murders of elders and others in Jayanagar, Banaswadi and other areas. Some (may) say they would like to have Sangliana back to fix these problems – forget national politics. Your response.


HTS: That is only a hypothetical point or question because I will not be reemployed as a police officer or if they want to reemploy me I don’t know as what they would like to reemploy me. It’s god’s will if I will be held responsible for law and order, not in Bangalore city but in the country. We have to have a national policy or a federal policy wherein an effective person will have to be employed for tackling all the police related problems, all law and order and crime related problems. So there has to be some uniform approach to solving problems in different states.

Today unfortunately, some people may say fortunately, police is a state subject. But this point has been a football like situation, where you kick towards the central government which will in turn kick towards the state government, to save their skin or to avoid interference from either side. So you have to have a federal law which should be imperative for the states to accept without simply saying that this is not the jurisdiction of the central government, this is our state subject.

The CBI, for example, some states will consider CBI interference as central government interference in their right of policing. So that way we need to have a federal law for this functioning wherein the central government can intervene, like in the form of the presidential rule.

VV: The city is facing a lot of developmental and growth problems. And yet there is no city council. It’s ironic that national elections are happening, but an elected local government does not exist. What is your view on this state of affairs? Will the chief minister’s ABIDe committee help fix it?
HTS: Not really. Wherever things are political in nature, if any work is related to political interest, quality suffers and also speed suffers. Deliberate delay will be caused by contractors so that they can come up with revised estimate for the expense that they say. So what is possible is, yes if the Chief Minister does not have any political ambitions in the development matters, if he considers the government as religious duty, then all these road development and innovation in infrastructure or beginning of infrastructure, every project will be completed in due time but what is happening is all this developmental works are not strictly subjected to quality control, there is poor quality execution. So what we need is more of quality roads than quantity roads.
Government cannot afford to give us first class roads because of multiplicity of such projects, and the like. Let them give us new roads which will last long, not potholes after a couple of months as it has been happening. So that way government should take serious notice and because of this, we don’t have any clear road map. In most projects we see a question mark hanging regarding the quality of work or length of time it will take to complete. So we need to check quality control and execute it with maximum efficiency. That is necessary.

VV: Can you name some of the projects your MPLADS funds were spent on over the last few years?
HTS: The main project was that of 13-km long road (Sangliana did not cite the name, it’s the Bagalur Road project) which I reconstructed, which was constructed some 25 years ago which had remained without repair for years, which had rendered the entire length of road into huge craters or potholes where even cyclists would not be able to go properly. So when that problem was presented before me, without much thought I promised that I will do the needful. This is the number one challenge when it came to the stage of asking extra money because the cost was Rs.1.5 crores which is much beyond my power. Now the MPLADS committee head will deliberate on this request three-four times. So they think there is a lot of corruption because of the cost. So definitely with god’s help it was cleared, saying Sangliana is known for his honesty. This particular road is an important road linking different towns in the area, villages in the area. So they cleared this project.
Construction was completed and the quality was that of very high standard. Even now not a single pothole has appeared and the places in and around that area, became so costly, so many millionaires emerged there because of this improved road. And the villages were requesting me to get water. So now water is supplied from borewell, overhead tank and pumps.

I also helped in putting up bus shelters. Compound walls in schools and also dormitory in Indira Gandhi hospital near NIMHANS.

Dr H T Sangliana (Pic: Vaishnavi Vittal)

VV: Some experts say the MPLADS funds are unconstitutional. They say public money is being given to MPs to illegitimately nurture their constituents using local development projects, which is really local government jurisdiction. Your response.


HTS: No I think that is not a very ethical way of looking at the subject. This is the money which is made available to the MPs purely for developing his constituency wherein the state government may not make it available to you to do the needful. And this is way of utilising MPs time for the benefit of the people of his constituency. It is rather a blessing, a great blessing which has been started which can prove a bad as well as a good MP in matters of execution of project, the quantity, etc.

For me this is really a god-given fund which I got and if this wasn’t there, there would not have been much scope for execution of my time. Rs.2 crores per year is the money given and in that you can bring happiness to a lot of people. If the MP is corrupt, if he tries to misappropriate or try to make money out of it through any kind of tactics he has to be condemned and he has to be denied of this privilege and he should even be booked for corruption. So as per me the amount should rather be doubled up or tripled up. We can really see MPs achievements and what he does for the people of his constituency.

So that kind of a theory is not really agreeable to me and it should be continued and it should rather be supervised strictly by the Standing Committee. We should not compromise with any misdeeds or any poor quality work or misappropriation of funds.

VV: Why did you join the Congress this time around (after expulsion from the BJP in 2008)? Why did you not join the Congress earlier itself, when you opted for the BJP? 

HTS: I retired in 2003. I had no idea of joining politics as such. When the election time was nearing, the BJP people and others came and asked me if I am interested in joining their party. I did not give them any definite answer. The last party which came and invited me seriously happened to be BJP. They said they wanted me to be their candidate for Bangalore North where Jaffer Sharief has won six times, undefeated.

In a lighter vein, this was a manly constituency, where a giant, a political giant has to be there. I accepted the offer. I was taken to Delhi and inducted into BJP at the national level by the BJP president Mr Venkaiah Naidu and so I joined BJP without any intention of becoming a politician as such. I have been a social worker in a police uniform for 36 long years. So I thought parliament experience will be useful for my future social work and related activities. I joined the Lok Sabha after I won the contest here in Bangalore North.
During four years and four months period of my stay in BJP I made sincere efforts to strengthen and develop BJP by way of selecting the leadership, how BJP could be expanded to the nook and corner of the country. I had gone to meetings with key people including Sri Vajpayee, Advani and present president Mr Singh. I don’t know what system in BJP, they seem to be more concerned about their Hindutva issue. So I found myself to be not really effective or sort of, my suggestions were just listened to, there was no acting on any of the suggestions. I found a small percentage of anti-social elements among the Bajrang Dal, VHP, Senas and RSS had exploited the BJP in so many ways by taking law into their own hands and at the same time proclaiming that they belong to the BJP politically. So the political wings or political fronts of BJP, in this manner, were trying to make their presence seen and felt. The vandalized churches by destroying church property. They beat up people to the extent of being hospitalized. This way their activities were quite alarming.

During these five years or more we have seen such incidents taking place in many parts of the country. I may not be able to name all of them, for a few maybe Orissa, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc.

So that’s how I joined the BJP. I joined on their invitation, not on my request, ok.

In course of time when the nuclear deal agreement issue, the 123 agreement came up, where the BJP said this was initiated by them when there was NDA, and now when the time came to put the signature on the agreement, now they were Opposition party, they realised their name will not be included in the agreement, they will lose opportunity to get some political mileage for the coming elections. So they insisted for revisitation of the agreement saying we should put this that.

The point was this was initiated by the NDA and those who drafted this from the Indian side were all highly educated civil servants, scientists. For me there was no real need of revisitation of the agreement and delay the signing of it. By the time the bus would have gone and America may not be willing to come forward again to try.

When the voting was about to take place my consideration was, BJP only has party interest, that is to gain political mileage whereas the UPA’s interest is for the nation, to have enough of electricity for industrial and scientific development. So I said if this proposal is thrown out, then our future generation will curse us, their grandparents. Our children or grandchildren will curse us for not having done enough for them. So I said national interest should be put above party interest.

So I was suspended by the BJP. I was disqualified by the Speaker who held inquiry on this matter. So I was disqualified for eight months and suspended my privileges for that period. I did not work for UPA with the deal.

So that’s how it happened. When I was inducted into Congress party on 20th when (US President Barack) Obama was sworn in, the same day I was inducted in Delhi by Sonia Gandhi before the media. That day for the first time I said to her about my interest in standing in the Bangalore Central constituency which is a new constituency.

Then over a period of time many people tried to be candidate for Central. Ultimately Sonia Gandhi, true to her words, she respected my wish and gave me the Central constituency. Now 37 candidates are contesting.

VV: You have adopted the “Amar-Akbar-Anthony model of communal harmony”. How many inter-community meetings have you coordinated or organised in the last five years? Who are the groups you brought together?


HTS: Well, every communal related matter like those incidents of vandalisation in churches and beating of worshippers’ etc., like Bajrang Dal people in South Karnataka district where I had gone there in 2005-2006. I took three gentlemen along with me who belong to different religion like Hindu, Muslim and Christian. So this is the first Amar Akbar Anthony team I had created and taken. We all met on the spot. We were all widely acceptable to every community man because they name itself said our enquiry would be impartial. So this kind of impression was there. Now number of such meetings as such, I did not convene any meeting but when the need arises I will activate the team and help them find a solution to these problems.

Now this time, in this 2009 parliamentary elections I first feel that the need of the country is unity and then communal harmony without which no progress would be possible to make. So for implementation of every project you have to have the right atmosphere and be frank with the people. So I’ve been saying that Congress is secular in nature and in policy, best political party to foster unity among different communities in the country. So I’ll be using Amar Akbar Anthony. We need that in India. This is the outcome of our desire to make a united India so that we can leave our respective caste, religion issue, language problem at home, use it at home only, and when we come outside and mingle in day-to-day life, I strongly feel that we don’t need to look at people in terms of their religion, language or caste. We’ll just be men and women. I feel that this Amar Akbar Anthony is the right catchword. We want to popularise it and bring unity among ourselves because the saying goes that ‘United we stand, Divided we fall’.

VV: What are you giving your voters this time that you did not give them last time?


HTS: This time I’ve told them I will look into the need to improve the standard of education in the constituency and also organise talent hunting of bright students in the primary school level, or maybe any level, high school level and help them secure further education which they may not get to do because of poverty. So I thought these lucky students will be sponsored to study in professional courses. This will have a desirable effect in encouraging other students also to study hard and become eligible to get this kind of sponsorship. I feel that can do a lot.

The next area includes security in the city by networking the citizens through our neighbours like the neighbourhood team that I had started wherein you meet the neighbours together, take care of civic problems of all kind and any such community problems in their respective blocks. One of my deputy commissioner’s had told me that he had started it in his own block and he started saying hello to his neighbours and that they also responded, smiled. He said he has more friends now. These kinds of things I want.

Then another area (where government can help) is widows and orphans. I also want to promote communal harmony by using the catchword Amar Akbar Anthony so that people believe that the issue of their religion, caste, creed or language is to be kept in their respective homes. They should not bring such things in the open and making religious or spiritual clashes.

Outside you should just be Indians and be happy enough and you should try to bring people more close. We should all suffer together, give your blood to die for the nation, be ready to do so. This is the dream I have. So my election slogan Amar Akbar Anthony, unity is catching up. More people are talking about it now than before. So we call for unity and to come together and fight together in this election also.


**Vaishnavi Vittal is a staff journalist with Citizen Matters. This interview was conducted over two days, on 16th and 18th April 2009.

READ MORE - “I’m A Social Worker, Not a politician”

Former Karnataka ’super cop’ reaches out to voters in style

Bangalore, April 21: Congress candidate H.T. Sangliana, a former “super cop” of Karnataka, says electioneering in the prestigious Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency is like a dream unfolding as the April 23 polling day nears.

Sangliana was elected to the 14th Lok Sabha on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from the adjacent Bangalore North constituency after defeating Congress veteran and former Union minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief.

This time, after switching parties, the 66-year-old former city police commissioner is contesting from Bangalore Central, which includes some of the areas of his previous constituency post-delimitation. He has been on the move over the last fortnight to reach out to as many of the 1.9 million voters as possible.

“It’s been a dream life. Over the last two weeks, I’ve lost count of the people I met while canvassing door-to-door and campaigning in several localities across the eight assembly segments of this huge constituency,” Sangliana told IANS while on the campaign trail in Gandhinagar.

Though Sangliana’s nomination from the much-sought-after constituency was late in coming, he lost no time in plunging headlong into hectic campaigning that begins early in the day and drags on till midnight.

Typically, he gets cracking at 7 a.m. for the campaign grind after a quick shower and breakfast in his modest sixth floor flat at the National Games Village in upscale Koramangala suburb.

By the time Sangliana sets out in a Honda CRV, with six gun-toting commandos providing him Z plus security cover in an escort jeep, he is swarmed by hordes of party cadres and local leaders to chalk out the day’s campaign route and the schedule for meetings in designated localities.

“I am 100 percent confident of winning. I have felt the pulse of the people as they greet and exchange views with me. The voters are educated and well-informed. They know I am a performer,” he said.

Unlike other candidates in the city, family members do not accompany Sangliana for electioneering.

While his wife Rovi keeps busy with household chores, three of their four daughters - Elizabeth, Sarah and Rebecca - are settled in Agartala, Mumbai and Boston.

Rachael, who lives separately in Bangalore, is the one who helps him in campaigning.

“All my daughters call me every day to enquire about my campaign and give me valuable suggestions,” beams Sangliana, sporting sunglasses and looking flamboyant in his usual safari suit.

As he enters Gandhinagar, a densely populated residential-cum-commercial area, shouts of “Sangliana zindabad” rent the air. Hordes of party workers and supporters converge at a local temple to welcome him with a burst of crackers, beating of drums, sloganeering and strings of garlands.

After praying at the temple, a heavily garlanded Sangliana steps out and climbs a white open van with Gandhinagar Congress legislator Dinesh Gundu Rao for a quick round of the locality.

With a ban on the use of election paraphernalia and loud speakers for campaigning, Sangliana depends on his popularity in the constituency to draw people’s attention and appeals for their votes with a broad smile, waving hands and delivering a short address on what he would do for them if elected.

Introducing him to a small gathering at a street corner, one of his supporters makes an impromptu speech using a mike and shouts “vote for Sangliana, vote for Sonia and vote for Congress to bring about a change in society”.

“Sangliana will definitely win. He is known for his good work both as a policeman and as a parliamentarian. I will vote for him,” said septuagenarian Mahesh Babu, a retired official, who stepped out of his house to greet the Congress leader.

“As a police officer he was a hero and did a commendable job. He is equally good as a politician now. He should win,” said B. Mandakini, 55.

Asked if his “super cop” image would help him garner votes, Sangaliana said he did not become overnight what people think of him.

“People call me a super cop because I introduced several measures for their benefit as a policeman. I was tough with criminals. I have no problem if people identify me as a super cop as long as I get their love and trust,” he said.

Sangliana is locked in a triangular contest with P.C. Mohan of the BJP and B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).

“If elected, I will improve electricity and water supply, repair roads and the drainage system. I will prevent moral policing,” Sangliana claimed, drawing a round of applause from his audience.

“I have always believed in good work to be part of public life. I want to spend the rest of my life working for the people,” he asserted.

After a few rounds of campaigning on a hot day, Sangliana breaks for a quick lunch and sets out for another gruelling round of campaigning.

READ MORE - Former Karnataka ’super cop’ reaches out to voters in style

It's triangular contest in Bangalore Central

Bangalore, Apr 18 : A triangular contest is on the cards in the Bangalore Central constituency which has population of all religions and castes. The Congress is betting on its one-time bitter rival, a "super cop", to score victory in this urban Parliamentary constituency.

The Congress candidate H T Sangliana, who recently quit the BJP and joined the Congress after the vote on N-deal in the Parliament last year, is facing tough battle from BJP's P C Mohan and JD (S)' Zameer Ahmed. While Mr. Mohan lost the last assembly elections, Mr. Ahmed is sitting member of the Assembly.

Mr. Sangliana trounced Congress warhorse C K Jaffer Sharief to win Bangalore North seat as a BJP candidate in 2004.

Interestingly, Mr Sangliana has upstaged Mr Sharief in securing Congress ticket to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central.

A giant killer then, defeating the former union minister Mr Sharief, Mr Sangliana, a former Bangalore Police Commissioner, is now donning a new hat as a Congress candidate.

Former Chief Minister S. M. Krishna and other Congress candidates had intensively campaigned for Mr Sangliana in the last couple of days.

After the volte-face on N-deal, Congress President Sonia Gandhi rewarded him overlooking the party's long-time loyal leader Sharief's demand to contest from Bangalore Central.

Mr Sharief has instead been given a ticket from Bangalore North and he has locked with BJP' D.B. Chandre Gowda, who recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP.

Shedding of his saffron tag, Mr Sangliana is now banking on his image of the no-nonsense "supercop" and the work done by him as an MP from Bangalore North to win against Mr Mohan and Mr Zameer Ahmed.

Mr Sangliana, a native of Mizoram, has made Bangalore his home after he hung up his boots at the end of 36-year police career. He is under Z security, following alleged harassment from BJP cadres for his vote for the UPA.

The Congress candidate has strongly condemned the attack on churches and blamed the VHP and Bajrang Dal forces for attack on women in Mangalore pub.

The Bangalore Central constituency has about 13 lakh Hindu voters, three lakh Muslims and 2.5 lakh Christians.

A minority leader close to JD(S) state unit head H D Kumaraswamy, Zameer is a sitting MLA from Chamarajpet. He won from the constituency after former Chief Minister S M Krishna quit the seat to move to Maharashtra as its Governor, a post he relinquished subsequently. Throwing a formidable challenge to the duo is Mohan, who won twice from Chikpet assembly segment. 

READ MORE - It's triangular contest in Bangalore Central

Contest wide open in Bangalore

By Rajashekara S

BANGALORE, Apr 18 : IT took five years for ‘super cop’ H T Sangliana to find that the BJP is “communal and anti-national,” before switching sides to the Congress on the floor of the House to nurture his political career.

The Indo-US nuke deal gave him a perfect opportunity to “hop” onto the Congress bandwagon and Sangliana has been rewarded with a ticket to contest as the party candidate from the newlycarved out Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency. In fact, he was considered by the party high command by refusing the ticket to seasoned leader and former union minister C K Jaffer Sharief, whom the former Bangalore City Police Commissioner defeated in 2004 from Bangalore North LS constituency, on a BJP ticket.

Soon after his retirement from the police department, Sangliana - hailing from Mizoram - surprised everyone when he joined the BJP stating that he “was inspired by Atal Behari Vajpayee.” After making controversial statements like terming the BJP as Bharatiya Jesus Party, Sangliana could not gel with the local BJP leaders and started distancing himself from the rank and file within a few months after getting elected.

Now, as a Congress candidate, Sangliana has the Herculean task to first establish a rapport with the Congress workers and leaders and second to get re-elected.

Denial of ticket to Sharief in Bangalore Central could prove to be a thorn in the poll prospects of Sangliana. This apart, Sangliana’s earlier charges against former chief minister S M Krishna, when he was a BJP MP may boomerang on him. Sangliana had supported the now convicted, former ASP Sangram Singh, when Singh had levelled charges against Krishna and other Congress leaders, of allegedly accepting money from stamp paper racket kingpin Abdul Karim Telgi, to secure the release of Dr Rajkumar from the clutches of forest brigand Veerappan.

As a result, Krishna turned down the request of Sangliana to campaign for him. Bangalore Central has four Congress MLAs and four BJP MLAs, representing its eight Assembly segments.

But lack of necessary support by Cong ress MLAs has proved to be a handicap for Sangliana to some extent.

On the other hand, BJP candidate P C Mohan and JD(S) nominee B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan have been aggressively campaigning.

Known for his “honesty and integrity” during service, Sangliana is a poor match when it comes to spending money for the polls, vis-a-vis Khan and Mohan, who are established businessmen.

Other than money bags, Khan is depending on the goodwill that he enjoys among Muslim voters besides the huge Vokkaliga population in the constituency.

Khan had offered to stay out of the contest, if Sharief were to contest from Bangalore Central to avoid division of “secular votes.” This has turned out to be a boon in disguise for the JD(S) as Sharief himself is understood to have sent a message to the community to stand behind the proprietor of the National Travels.

Sangliana, however, expresses confidence of winning the constituency and is pinning hopes on the good work done by him as an MP in the previous term.

In fact, he is one of the few MPs from the state who judiciously utilised the MPLAD fund to take up development works in the constituency.

But his recent public support to “everything Christian,” seems to have taken a toll on his otherwise clean image. More than Mohan’s influence and image, BJP is hoping for a repeat of the 2004 results when its then candidate Sangliana surprised all by trouncing a senior leader Sharief. Then, the party managed to win because of the split in minority votes between the JD(S) which had fielded C M Ibrahim and Sharief.

This time, the saffron party is hoping a similar split in votes between Sangliana and Khan.

On the whole, the contest appears to be equally matched as Sangliana is set to get almost the full chunk of Christian votes, which are around 1.5 lakh, while Khan could bag nearly 80 to 90 per cent of the Muslim votes. BJP, on the other hand, is keeping its fingers crossed waiting for a split in the minority votes.

With no particular wave in anyone’s favour and the general disenchantment among the electorate, it has made it difficult and uncertain for all three main candidates who can never take victory for granted, until the last vote is counted.

READ MORE - Contest wide open in Bangalore

Bangalore Central Candidates Debate

But leave voters dissatisfied

The audience at the candidate debate session had hoped for direct and honest responses from the MP aspirants. Their hopes were belied.

By Supriya Khandekar


After a long day of debates between candidates from Bangalore South and Bangalore North it was now Bangalore Central candidates’ turn to answer the public’s queries. The candidates looked tired at the end of a long day of campaigning.

The event organised by Smart Vote and News9 on 14th April, at Sathya Sai Samskrutha Sadan, Koramangala brought all candidates contesting for Bangalore Central on one dias . Candidates present included Dr HT Sangliana (INC), Vijay Raja Singh (BSP ), K Uma (SUCI), JD Elangovan (Indian Justice Party), Vijaya Bhaskar N (Independent). PC Mohan (BJP) and Zameer Ahmed (JDS) were absent.

The session started around 5.30 PM with the first round where all the candidates appealed for votes in a given two minute’s time.

Dr HT Sangliana spoke first where he pointed that experience is an essential element to understand the people. He said, "A fresher cannot be eligible to guide the citizens." He asked everyone to vote for him considering his experiences in his earlier career (as a police officer and a member of the defence committee) and in politics. All the other candidates present in the debate were either first timers or candidates who have not won till date.

His appeal was countered by BSP candidate Vijay Raja Singh, a young first timer. Singh said, "Our parliament is old and needs young people to take it forward. It is the time for a change." He also said that he would like to have more educated young people in Central Bangalore, like in Bangalore South which he felt has more ‘educated and elite’ population. He claimed that he will be the most accountable politician.
He was followed by K Uma who believed that the focus should be on more serious issues like the fiscal policies, education policies and womens agenda instead of only concentrating on roads and power. She claimed that she would start a movement to solve all problems.

The next candidate was Vijaya Bhaskar N, ex-Managing Director of KPTCL, contesting as an independent. His election agenda is to focus on improving the municipal corporation which will eventually lead to a better city.

JD Elangovan who spoke next talked about his ideals and asked people to vote for him because he plans to make things work and not just talk about them.

Soon after the initial introduction, the forum was open for questions from the audience. The first question was for Sangliana from an RTI Activist who wanted to know how the RTI Act can get more teeth.

Sangliana did not give a concrete answer. He explained how the RTI act was an important tool to uncover corruption. The other candidates on the dias chanted the same tune. Bhaskar added that the act should have a provision, if answers are not given in the required time, a criminal case should be filed against the respective authority.

The session continued with the next question where the candidates were asked how would they deal with the deteriorating environment. None of them spoke about policies or the measures they would take to solve the problem. The candidates said BBMP has “become a garbage” in itself. They felt people do not realise that the city should be kept clean.

Just after this a gentleman from the audience asked Sangliana what he would do about police reforms. Sangliana promised to ensure the reforms are implemented.

On the topic of moral policing and attacks against women in the state, Singh (BSP) voiced out how he deeply regrets those incidents and therefore he wants a woman as the Prime Minister of the country to ensure that women in the country are free and safe. He also mentioned that how because of Mayawati's rule in Uttar Pradesh the number of rapes has come down.

While all the other candidates were sniggered at this, the audience booed. Elangovan interrupted and said that nobody has any right to enforce their moral values on anybody and therefore there is no need for a moral police.

The question about the deadline of 11.30 PM for pubs in Bangalore came up and all candidates were fine with extending the deadline but wanted the people to be self disciplined in return.

Sangliana was asked about his changing parties (he changed from BJP to Congress this year). He replied that it was based on ideological differences and he would stand by his ideologies first and then for the party.
For most questions the candidates either gave evasive answers or did not answer the question at all. They kept giving examples of the present scenario. Some important questions on infrastructure policies, improvements and governance were dismissed by the candidates with convoluted responses. No candidate spoke about his/her policies. One could observe the audience laughing and booing frequently.

At the end when the anchor asked the audience if the candidates had responded convincingly, there was a loud 'no' from the audience. Due to shortage of time, a lot of questions remained unanswered and the audience was left unsatisfied. However it was a laudable attempt by the organisers to understand what the candidates stand for.  Such debates can help voters realise the capability or the lack of it, in their candidates.
The debates will be aired on News9 from Friday to Sunday, 6 PM onwards


Source : Citizen Matters

READ MORE - Bangalore Central Candidates Debate

'Amar, Akbar, Anthony' in poll fight: Bangalore Central

Bangalore, April 16 :  After delimitation, constituencies in Bangalore have thrown up an interesting mix of voter profiles. Not to mention an interesting range of candidates.

Manmohan Desai would have been pleased. Attempting to charm the voters of the newly formed Bangalore Central constituency - from the state's three major parties are candidates from three different religions - P C Mohan of the BJP, Zameer Ahmed of the JD-S and the Congress' H T Sangliana. But the competition between them is not too brotherly.

Sangliana also stresses that he has "done good deeds for Bangalore" he 'envisions a 21st century City' for the Silicon Valley of India and People will vote for him.

"I have done good things for every religion. I am a secular leader. I will promise you that as many Muslims vote for me, I will earn 20 per cent vote from my Hindu brothers," says JD-S candidate, Zameer Ahmed.

"I think it should not be taken as siding with Christians only. I have people from all religions who came to me for help," says Congress candidate, Sangliana.

And on the other hand, BJP candidate PC Mohan says, "I appeal to all 18.25 lakh voters and I am confident of getting votes from everybody.

Bangalore Central has a sizeable Muslim and Christian votebank, but the poor can only hope that politicians will help them - whatever their religious faith may be.

"I have been married for 13 years and I have been in this jhopdi only. Whichever caste or religion, whoever does good to us, we will vote for them," says Kannada Muniyamma, a slum-dweller in Bangalore central.

READ MORE - 'Amar, Akbar, Anthony' in poll fight: Bangalore Central

Justice Saldanha backs H T Sangliana

Bangalore, Apr 16 : Justice Saldanha declared his support for Congress candidate from Bangalore Central H T Sangliana for his secular credentials, reports DHNS from Bangalore.

At a press conference on Wednesday, Saldanha stressed on Sangliana’s integrity and labelled him as ‘the only person to remove crime and corruption.’

The endorsement was supported by Retd DGP FTR Colaso and IIM Professor Rajeev Gowda.

The trio felt that Sangliana was a symbol of secularism and he merited support as an individual and just as a representative of the Congress party.

READ MORE - Justice Saldanha backs H T Sangliana

Forum bats for Sangliana

He gets support from an apolitical group


— Photo: K. Gopinathan


The team: (From left) F.T.R. Colaso, former Director-General of Police; M.F. Saldanha, former Karnataka High Court judge; and Rajeev Gowda of the IIMB at the press meet in Bangalore on Wednesday. BANGALORE: Retired IPS officer H.T. Sangliana of the Congress, who is facing a stiff electoral challenge in the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha Constituency, has received support from an apolitical forum led by retired judge of the Karnataka High Court M.F. Saldanha.

Describing Mr. Sangliana as a “man of unimpeachable integrity”, Mr. Saldanha told presspersons on Wednesday that the retired police officer had distinguished himself as a man of principle and “a human being, who has displayed exceptional courage at all times”.

Endorsing Mr. Saldanha’s choice for Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat were Rajeev Gowda of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore (IIMB) and former Director-General of Police F.T.R. Colaso.

Addressing the press conference under the banner of Dr. H.T. Sangliana Campaign Committee, the trio called upon the electorate to cast their votes for Mr. Sangliana to help send such a personality to the Lok Sabha from Bangalore.

“In the midst of every form of unfair and corrupt electoral practice, from the distribution of money to incentives, right down to biryani, Dr. Sangliana stands tall and clean and appeals to your sense of propriety, justice, truth and above all the pride of being an Indian,” Mr. Saldanha said.

Mr. Colaso said the fact that Mr. Sangliana was contesting the elections with the minimum amount of funds should encourage people to vote for him and help fight the bane of money-power that was threatening the fairness of electoral politics in the country.

Prof. Gowda said Mr. Sangliana was symbolic of Bangalore’s cosmopolitan and composite culture. Mr. Saldanha said their forum also favoured a second term for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as there was no suitable alternative to him.

READ MORE - Forum bats for Sangliana

‘Impart social education in temples’ HT Sangliana

H T Sangliana hits the campaign trail differently

BANGALORE, April 15 : “Bangalore has thousands of places of worship. If all of them were to impart social education, things can be bettered. Teach dos and don’ts of the constitution and life in general.

Knowledge of the scriptures should be imparted.” This statement of Congress candidate from Bangalore Central, H T Sangliana on Tuesday, drew flak from some of the audience at a face-to-face programme held in the city.

One of the participants said that Hindu temples were not places of propaganda.

“This shows your shallow understanding of Hindu culture,” the participant alleged. Responding to this question, Sangliana clarified that religious institutions can impart social education and not be used for political propaganda. “I do not recommend political teaching in temples,” he clarified.

He was also asked questions on job losses, economic situation and security issues. Sangliana said that unity, security, development and communal harmony were his top priorities.

He stated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was a thinker and economist and showed faith in his governance.

JD(S) candidate Zameer Ahmed and BJP candidate P C Mohan were invited to the face-to-face event organised by NGO Unnati, but they did not turn up.

READ MORE - ‘Impart social education in temples’ HT Sangliana

HT Sangliana Pay Tributes To 'Annavaru'

HT Sangliana Pays Tribute to Annavaru


Bangalore, April 13 : Even three years after his demise, Kannada legendary actor Rajkumar lives in their hearts. Thousands of fans thronged Rajkumar memorial site at Kanteerava Studio here today to pay glowing tributes to their matinee idol on the occasion of the third death anniversary of Dr. Rajkumar.

Fans in large numbers kept streaming into the Studio from morning. By evening, over 10,000 fans had paid their tributes to their beloved Annavaru.

The thespian's wife Parvathamma Rajkumar arrived at the Samadhi at around 10am along with her sons Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra and Puneet and performed religious rituals.

Prominent Leaders who were present on the occasion included H T Sangliana, C K Jaffer Shariff , local MLA Narendra Babu and other dignitaries from film industry including Film Director KSL Swamy, writer K R Nagaraj and others. Actress Tara also visited the family and paid tributes to the legend.

There were several programmes organized on this occasion. Nadoja Rajkumar Adhyayana Peetha, Kannada University Hampi and Chitra Srujana Kala Samsthe had jointly organized a cultural programme 'Amara Kala Chetana Raj Ondu Nenapu' at Yavanika premises.

An eye donation camp besides several charity activities were also organised on the occasion by family members, fans and well-wishers. The Raj family also organised free lunch for the fans. The thespian's actor-sons hung around the place for a long while and interacted with the fans.

Dr Shivaji Ganeshan Memorial Trust of Karnataka organized a programme called Pushpanjali and Deepanjali, at Prakash Nagar. Dr K Bhujangashetty, actor Avinash, cine actress Malavika Avinash, Dr Madhusudan Babu, Rajeshwari, N Krishna, Dr Nataraj, president of Dr Shivaji Ganeshan Trust and others were present.

Speaking to mediapersons, the Raj family members expressed their dissatisfaction over the delay in the construction of the Raj memorial park. Though the government has sanctioned the amount and the land, work is yet to pick up speed, even though three years had passed since the actor's demise, they said. They pointed out that though the work began after the BJP government came into power, and that it is going on at snail's pace. They said though Raj might not be around physically, he still lived in the hearts of everyone.

The Rajkumar memorial is to come up at the 2.5-acre site where the actor's grave is also situated. The government has already sanctioned Rs11 crore for the memorial, which will include a modern cinema complex to screen the thespian's films, a gallery of Dr Rajkumar's pictures, a museum of the actor's memorabilia, a yoga hall, an open-air theatre, a park, a library and a lake.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

READ MORE - HT Sangliana Pay Tributes To 'Annavaru'

Sangliana Banking on Supercop Image

BANGALORE, Apr 13 : Former IPS officer H T Sangliana who is the Congress candidate for Bangalore Central constituency seems to be banking on his clean image as super cop and as one of the few MPs who has stayed away from the political dirt.

As the BJP’s surprise candidate from Bangalore North in 2004 Sangliana had defeated Congress veteran C K Jaffer Sharief.

And so the Congress has gone out of its way to favour the 66-year-old to contest from the newly formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency.

“I am not considered among the hardcore politicians, and I don’t want to consider myself in that list, as it has lost credibility among people. I take this as a service, as people know me as a police officer and I believe the image that I have built during service will work for me in this election,” Sangliana told Express.

A day after his candidature was announced in New Delhi, Sangliana first touched base with the Congress legislators representing the assembly segments of his constituency. “I believe in the work that I have done during my last term as MP of Bangalore North. Though I was deprived of discharging my duties as an MP, I remained serving the people of my constituency and attending to their problems to the best of my ability,” he said.

Though he had pipped Jaffer Sharief in securing the much-coveted Bangalore Central in 2004, this election is going to be a tough road ahead for Sangliana. The constituencies witnessed seriuos changes after the 2008 Assembly elections. BJP has grabbed 17 of the 28 assembly segments across the expanded city. Sangliana can only bank on four legislators of the Congress, which is again a divided house.

However, Sangliana is confident of winning as he believes that though his constituency consists of diverse communities cosmopolitan enough to judge a candidate based on merits.

P K Paul, media coordinator for Sangliana said, “The voters are aware of the Sangliana’s efforts as MP of Bangalore North.

He was one of the few MPs from the state who fully utilised the corpus of Rs 2 crore annually for developing the constituency.”

READ MORE - Sangliana Banking on Supercop Image

Beer cheers For Bangalore

This fave watering hole marked its change of image to a cool pub with a buzzing party.

The evening saw a whole bunch of party folk turn up to listen to retro beats and guzzle pitchers of beer.

Earlier, HT Sangliana had cut a ribbon to open the place.

Yes, they still do that kinda thing.

Lots of glam gals turned up, including actress Jennifer Kotwal, chic in black, and model Nioosha.

A good time was had by all and then it was time to leave, much too early, everyone felt.

But that’s Bangalore with its deadlines for you.

source : times of India

READ MORE - Beer cheers For Bangalore

Gunning for the Hindu Vote

While Congress party's Sangliana and Janata Dal's Zameer are trying to woo Hindus with temple visits and soft speech on their secular outlook, BJP candidate PC Mohan has cause to worry as Bangalore Central has about 13 lakh Hindu voters

By PK Surendran

HT Sangliana, the 67-year-old saffron renegade, contests on Congress ticket from Bangalore Central constituency with 18 lakh voters. He had an unblemished record as an upright police officer who brought in many novel methods to make policing better for Bangalore. A second-generation convert to Christianity from Mizoram, he defeated Congress veteran CK Jaffar Sherief on a BJP ticket from Bangalore North in 2004. The new Bangalore Central has about 13 lakh Hindu voters (about 5 lakhs Tamils alone), 3 lakh Muslim voters and 2.5 lakh Christian voters (including one lakh Tamil Christians). Sangliana tells PK Surendran that he had never made a caste-communal strategy as he fought elections on the basis of his probity in public life and belief in the goodness of humanity. He considers Hindus as essentially a secular lot who vote by their own conviction. To buttress his belief, he points out that of the eight assembly constituencies in Bangalore North, four belong to Congress. To him, he has only one rival, the BJP. The JD(S) does not count at all. His campaign strategist Sridhar chips in to say that while last time the Vajpayee wave had helped the BJP win, no such wave is evident now. Issues: Sangliana wants to develop Bangalore Central as a model constituency for others. For him, decongesting traffic is an important task. The constituency envelop the core city and it needs relaxation in bugle time, which is currently 11pm. Since the city has lakhs of people working in IT-ITES-BPO, the relaxation time and a chain of good, affordable eateries are important. He also wants to ensure that all people of the constituency get health insurance as medical expenses are beyond the common man today.  Improving roads, water supply and security to people, especially for children and the aged, are subjects dear to him. Improving police surveillance is also a top priority. Infrastructure: The core city's infrastructural needs are intelligent road network that would ensure smooth traffic, drainage, entertainment avenues, better water supply and an effective people-friendly transport service. Night safety is essential and police vigil will be stepped up. My campaign:  I go to people directly. My life and works are open books. I do not believe in special or star campaigns. During my tenure, I spent Rs.7.61 crores from MP funds for roads (Bagalur Road needs underscore), water, building, drainage, and bus shelters. Following my requests for financial assistance to the seriously ill people in my constituency, I received Rs. 31,71,999 from the PM's relief fund, Rs 2,00,000 from the chief minister's fund, and Rs 15,000 from the mayor. The aid helped those patients to undergo treatment. I'm ranked third in attendance among the 28 MPs from the state and I have a clean record. I'm confident of earning the votes of minorities and majority Hindus. HT Sangliana's Opponents: Govt's gains are his strength Two terms MLA, PC Mohan is the BJP candidate in Bangalore Central. Though he hails from a business family, he has been in active politics since the 90's. This time, the 45-year-old candidate is testing his luck from the newly constituted Bangalore Central constituency. In Bangalore Central, the deciding factor will be the 13 lakh Hindus voters. His two opponents, belonging to minority communities, are trying to divide his votes by trying to attract Hindu votes. PC Mohan lists the issues the city is facing today and his priorities to Srikanth Hunasavadi. Issues: As a MLA form Chikpet for two terms, I have done many developmental works. Today, people of Chikpet remember me for my works. I had taken the initiative to change century-old drainage and water pipes in the constituency. While campaigning, I will highlight the failures of the UPA government before the people. Today it is not possible for the common man to live happily because prices of essential commodities have soared. Citizens do not have security for their lives due to terror threat following the UPA government's soft approach to terrorists. The 11-month-old BJP government in the state has spent crores of rupees for infrastructural projects for Bangalore City. I will put forward all the achievements of the BJP government while seeking votes. Infrastructural needs: Bangalore city is growing rapidly. But compared to other metros, the city's infrastructure is poor. After BJP government came to power in the state, lot of developmental activities have started. With the assistance of the state government, we will speed up all developmental works. Providing good roads, drainage, and all types of necessary infrastructure will be my priority. My campaign: My party has a strong network in the constituency. So along with the workers, I will try to meet all voters in the constituency by undertaking padayathras, holding public meetings, rallies, and door-to-door campaigns. Zameer seeks secular votes Till 2005 an unknown figure, Zameer Ahamad Khan became popular in no time. Today, he is a minority leader of JD(S), and close to former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy. Chamarajpet's sitting MLA, Zameer is contesting from Bangalore Central. Although a school drop-out, Zameer runs a travel office that operates a fleet of about thousand buses. He entered politics in 2004 and unsuccessfully contested from Jayanagara assembly. When SM Krishna vacated the Chamarajpet constituency and went to Maharashtra as governor, Zamir got a chance to contest for JD(S) ticket and won. Despite his busy political life, Zameer visits his travel office every day to check the accounts. As a secular leader, Zameer also visits temples, churches, and gurudwaras. He spoke to Srikanth Hunasavadi about the issues he is going to fight for during this election. Issues: I will focus on BJP government's failures. The state government failed in providing security to the people. When communal incidents are happening in certain places, the government is keeping quiet. During his tenure as chief minister, Kumaraswamy used to meet people to study their problems. In contrast, during 11 months of rule, Yeddyurappa never met people.  Infrastructural needs: When Kumaraswamy was chief minister, he sanctioned crores of rupees to the city's infrastructural projects. But now there is confusion in providing infrastructure. I will not promise too many things but if people vote for me, I will honestly try to provide them with basic facilities. My campaign: I will tour my constituency and knock on the door of each voter. People have faith in me as I do not belong to one community. They want new faces to serve the country. In Bangalore Central, Congress is in third place. So our main rival is BJP. My aim: Bangalore Central constituency would serve as a role model for others. I will be accessible to people whenever they need my help.

source : DNA India

READ MORE - Gunning for the Hindu Vote

Bangalore Central Voters Speak Out for Sangliana

Rama Zutshi, from Cox Town, Bangalore

Monday, April, 2009

Right now, Bangalore Central is 60-40 in favour of Congress. Sangliana will get elected unless Zameer who is contesting on the JDS tickets polls more than 1.25 lakh votes.

Of course Sangliana's confidence stems from the following:

1. Sangliana is a clean politician and even during his days in the police, he was a no nonsense police officer. There are many youths irrepective of religion or caste who look upto him as a hero.

2. B'lore Central has 28% BC hindus, 23% Muslims and 14% Christians (Muslims and Christians in B'lore are all concentrated in B'lore Central - areas like Shivajinagar, Cox Town, Shantinagar, Viveknagar). In the past most of the 28% Backward Caste votes have gone for the Congress or JDS. Unless these 51% votes (BC Muslims) get fractured vertically, it will be bad news for the BJP.

3. BJP has shot itself in the foot by supporting the Rama Sene and indulging in communal violence in M'lore, B'lore and Udipi.

I don't think many woman will vote for them this time. Who will win, only time will tell.

Had Jaffer Sharief contested on a JDS ticket, BJP would have won. But as things stand today it is definitely advantage Congress.

READ MORE - Bangalore Central Voters Speak Out for Sangliana

Sangliana Confident of Winning with Extended Lead

Bangalore: "Those who are in favour of development and harmonious co-existence will vote for me.

I will win the seat with an extended margin as compared to the earlier election," said Congress candidate from Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency H T Sangliana.

He was speaking after releasing the election manifesto at a press conference on Thursday.

"I am an honest servant of the people. Efforts are being made to finish me off by pitting communal forces against me. I want to transform the constituency into a model one," he explained.

He clarified that there were no misgivings between himself and Jaffer Shareif and that both of them would together file their nominations on Friday April 3.

In the manifesto, Sangliana has spelt out his priorities as ensuring communal harmony, restricting government interference in matters pertaining to religious centres, protecting religious rights and stopping political interference in police department affairs.

READ MORE - Sangliana Confident of Winning with Extended Lead

Bangalore Central Candidates for Lok Sabha 2009

H T Sangliana | Indian National Congress

Educational qualifications:  BA (Hons), IPS
Legislative experience:  MP in 2004
Political career: Contested from Bangalore North on a BJP ticket and was subsequently disqualified. Joined Congress.
Causes identified with: For the Indo-US nuclear deal, safety and security of minorities
Criminal cases: None Assets: Rs 2.54cr

Cash in his and wife’s name - Rs 3.86 lakh; Motor vehicle - third-hand car; jewellery - 175 gm gold, Rs 2.8 lakh; agricultural land - 3.10 guntas worth Rs 3 lakh; 2 acres in Jala hobli — Rs 10 lakh; Buildings worth Rs 2 crore and Rs 35 lakh 

Former BJP MP from erstwhile Bangalore North, this IPS officer was the former city police commissioner. Hailing from Mizoram, Sangliana was a super cop on whose life and work, movies have been made in Kannada. As a BJP nominee, Sangliana took on Congress heavyweight and war horse C K Jaffer Sharief from Bangalore North constituency in 2004. He won with a good margin and silenced his detractors in some style.

He took up the cause of the Christian community when there were attacks on community members. Sangliana lent his support to many Christian organisations to draw the government’s attention. However, he shot to fame on the political canvas when he ignored the party whip in the Parliament and voted for the UPA government last year during the trust vote on the Indo-US nuclear deal. His vote mattered a lot in saving the UPA government. His office was ransacked and he was given security. Subsequently, Sangliana was disqualified by the BJP. After coming into good books with the Congress high command, Sangliana was keen on contesting from Bangalore North again. But Congress could not overlook Sharief and decided to field Sangliana from Central.

Bangalore Central Constituency:

Has eight assembly segments — Sarvagnanagar, C V Raman Nagar, Shivajinagar, Shantinagar, Gandhinagar, Rajajinagar, Chamarajpet and Mahadevapura. Barring Mahadevapura, all the segments are within BBMP areas. The voters are mainly urban and literate.

TOTAL NO. OF VOTERS : 18.4 Lacs
TOTAL NO. OF POLLING BOOTHS 1767

Sangliana Opponents from Bangalore Central:

Zameer Ahmed | JD(S) Age: 43
Educational qualifications:
SSLC,not completed
Legislative experience:
MLA in 2005, 2008
Political career: Was JD(S) worker; minister for Wakf and Haj committee in H D Kumaraswamy government. Won in 2008.
Causes identified with: Civic issues

Criminal cases: One case under section 486, 471, 420 of IPC is pending

Assets: Rs 44 lakh
Cash in hand - Rs 1,60,900; Cash in Banks - Rs 4,51,220; Motor vehicles - nil; Jewellery - gold - 279 grams worth Rs 2,83,900; Silver - 250 grams - Rs 42,500; House at RMV has a registered value - Rs 35 lakh
    From nobody to somebody in 2005. Former CM S M Krishna’s appointment as Maharastra governor paved the way for Zameer’s political growth.
    When Krishna vacated Chamarajpet seat to take up the governor’s post, JD(S) fielded Zameer who went to beat Krishna’s lieutenant R V Devaraj.
    Subsequently, Zameer was sworn in as wakf minister in the JD(S)-BJP coalition government under H D Kumaraswamy’s chief ministership.
    However, due to a misunderstanding with the former CM, Zameer resigned in protest. But within a few days, the duo patched up but he did not get back his portfolio.
    A two-time MLA, Zameer is a partner in National Travels, one of the biggest transport companies in the state. Interestingly, his affidavit does not show a single motor vehicle in his name. Zameer did his schooling at Siddhartha High School Kunigal in Tumkur but didn’t take the SSLC exam.
    He joined the family transport business. A staunch followed of JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda, he rose very quickly in the party ladder.

P C Mohan | BJP Age: 45

Educational qualifications: II PUC

Legislative experience: MLA in 1999, 2004
Political career: Started as a BJP party worker, was in the Yuva Morcha. Got party ticket to contest assembly elections from Chickpet
Causes identified with: Civic issues
Criminal cases: None Assets: Rs 5.68cr
Cash on hand: Rs 28.79 lakh; cash in financial institutions - Rs 2.64 lakh; Bonds, debentures and shares - Rs 1.74 lakh; LIC policies - Rs 31 lakh; Motor Vehicles — 3 cars - Rs 34 lakh; Jewellery - 350 gms gold and 3 kgs silver - Rs 6 lakh; Capital in business - Rs 2.78 crore; Agricultural land - Rs 31.49 lakh; Buildings - Rs 1.52 crore; Borrowings - Rs 3.28 crore
    Arich businessman dealing with sanitaryware products, and a two-time MLA from Chickpet, Mohan was born in Bangalore and studied in Balamandira, National High School and Vijaya College, Jayanagar. Coming from a business family, he started working at 19 years and was instrumental in launching their business chain. In 1993, Mohan took the plunge into politics through the BJP. Representing Chickpet, an under-developed commercial centre, Mohan had initiated underground drainage and road projects.
    The Chickpet constituency belongs to the Old Bangalore area where the infrastructure with regards to roads, underground drainage, storm water drain and water supply is a major issue. They had crumbled under the pressure of rapid growth over the decades.
    Several projects to improve the roads, drainage facility and providing drinking water were taken up. The government schools were given priority to raise the standard of education and extend basic amenities.
    After the delimitation last year, Chickpet segment disappeared and Mohan contested from Gandhinagar in 2008, but lost to the Congress. He was a natural choice for Bangalore Central.

READ MORE - Bangalore Central Candidates for Lok Sabha 2009

Banking on community vote banks

By S Kushala

It’s quite aptly the battle of Amar Akbar and Antony. And the constituency has a sizeable population of Hindus, Muslims and Christians. With three candidates from three communities slugging it out, the key will be percentage of voter turnout from each community.

A new constituency, Bangalore Central, comprises  newly carved-out assembly segments such as Sarvagnanagar and Mahadevapura and taken in Chamarajpet which was earlier in Bangalore South.

Among the segments, the most distinct is Mahadevapura which has diverse sections like farmers and techies and a mix of rich and poor. While there are huge tracts of agricultural lands where the primary occupation is agriculture, horticulture and sericulture, you also have software giants located here. When the realty sector was at its peak, swanky constructions dotted this area while the old world charm still remains in Whitefield.

Predominantly a Congress stronghold, Bangalore Central also has three assembly segments with the BJP. With a lot of CMC areas coming into the constituency, it has a plethora of civic problems, especially lack of basic amenities in the newly added areas. It also has a lot of slums.

H T Sangliana, who broke from the BJP and contesting on a Congress ticket has no doubt invited the wrath of staunch BJP voters for his pro-nuke deal stand. However, with the belt having a large Christian population, Sangliana has pinned hopes on his community.

There is a tough fight between Sangliana, BJP’s P C Mohan and JDS’ Zameer Ahmed Khan as all of them have tasted political success. With less than two weeks to go for voting, the poll pitch is taking different colours.

According to poll observers, here the voter mindset is different — vote for the community. The candidates are neither young nor spouting New Age jargon. It’s good, old-fashioned vote-bank politics.“The area has several slum pockets which can translate into votes. Though there is a sizeable IT crowd, the candidates have not explored it. The campaign is also very conventional and dull,’’ say observers.

READ MORE - Banking on community vote banks

Sangliana kickstarts poll campaign

BANGALORE, Apr 10 : Congress candidate from Bangalore Central, H T Sangliana, kickstarted his poll campaign by thrashing the state government and the BJP.

“BJP is trying to divide the people by playing the communal and caste cards. They should understand that this is a new India which is looking at economic development.

One cannot play these cards for a long time,” he said. He was addressing the media, prior to his campaign, at his campaign office.

The newly-formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency has considerable number of minority community votes which both the Congress and JD(S) are eyeing. “People of this constituency know what I am and what I did for them in the last five years. They will vote for me and I will win,” Sangliana said.

When asked about his affiliation with the BJP in the last elections, he said, “I never joined BJP on my own. It was the party leaders who came to me and asked me to contest.

However, I worked based on my principles and not those of that party.” Sangliana alleged that the state government was misusing the police stations for BJP activities.

The leaders should avoid this as the people of the state have great respect for the police station.

Government machinery cannot be used for party purposes, he added.

When asked about the split in minority community votes, Sangliana told Express, “This time it will not get split as the opponents are not strong. Both the JD(S) and BJP have weak candidates.

Even if JD(S) fights with all its force, it will not get more than 25 per cent of the minority community votes.

Moreover, more than 90 per cent of Hindu voters in this constituency are secular and I will get a large chunk of the votes from them also. My victory is certain.”

Congress workers are banking on his track record as MP of Bangalore North, parts of which have been included in the newly-formed Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency.

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Sangliana rallies to drum up support

The one-time super cop proved that he is a also showman of sorts during his electioneering in Shivaji Nagar

By P K Surendran




Bangalore, Apr 9 : Gulping down the Horlicks his wife gave him, HT Sangliana, Congress candidate for Bangalore Central, nods to the platoon of gun-totting Black Cats.

Dressed in olive green pants and a check shirt, he brushes aside his wife's suggestion to have a heavy breakfast. 'I'm late," says he.

The 'road show' then begins in Shivaji Nagar at 1.30 pm, three hours behind schedule, which gives tense moments to his campaign managers, Ashwin and Hussain.

At 1 O'Clock, the Black Cats (he is in Z category) deliver the man. On the way to campaign, Sangliana speaks to DNA.

If his party comes to power and he wins, what will he do for Bangalore Central?
"I want to make it a model constituency in the country. I will start with amenities."

He also refers to techies' complaint that they work late into night and get no decent place to dine. Night life is spoiled by police at 11 pm. All flights too come at night. How are they then supposed to live?

"I will try to bring relaxation in timings. After all, police job is to prevent crime and make citizens' life more comfortable. Regulation is a lazy way to escape from responsibility."

 The cavalcade comes to a halt at Seppings Road as crackers go bursting (boo to EC code) and drum-beaters make a racket. Sangliana snatches a drum and begins playing. MLA Roshan Baig takes charge from here.

The road is overflowing with festival crowd due to Muthyalamma Rathotsav. Someone puts a Mysore Peta cap on Sangliana's head and the ordeal of Black Cats begins.

They form a ring around Sangliana. This infuriates zealous youths and a verbal exchange ensues. Sangliana walks with his palms joined in Namaste sign. It is predominantly a Tamil area.

They come to Rath, a five-stage art object made of timber, tin and clothes. Everybody is throwing a plantain fruit at Rath. Someone gives a fruit to Sangliana. He throws it but it hits the structure and falls to the ground.

Next, they reach a make-shift stage where Baig and Sangliana step onto. Baig tries to rouse the rabble talking in a mixed lingo overloaded with Tamil. If there is a leader who protects Tamil interests, it is Sangliana, he says amid loud claps.

The microphone is passed to the candidate. He vows he will tirelessly work for them. He also reminds them how Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa spends Rs 23 crores for the campaign of his son while Tamils are spending money for buying a little water to drink.

Along the route, he waves to people standing on balconies. He lovingly pinches the tiny cheeks of babes in their mothers' arms.

The procession nears the Muthyalamma temple. The 100-yard path to the temple is unbelievably dirty with wastes, plastic cups and slush. As Sangliana and Baig get in, a shoal of videographers swim in too, ignoring the warning board, "Photography and videography are prohibited."

Sangliana gets a special aarti and comes out with a red tilak on his forehead.
 Back to the road, a local leader walks behind Sangliana and raises his palm and chants the, 'kai" (hand) Marakka mate" (don't forget hand).

From the temple, the crowd follows him to Al Badr building that stands opposite to the road.

He seeks votes from workers inside the building, swigs a soft drink, and melts into the seething crowd. All are profusely sweating but Sangliana shows no sign of fatigue. He continues walking the streets with palms folded in namaste mode and occasionally getting into shops suggested by campaign managers and Baig.

It is 4 pm and it wearies out most supporters except the candidate. "I'll be back at night," he tells DNA, "If you want, you can come along."

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The era of Gate Ganesha

It was a typical Bangalore spring day, sun-drenched but cool, when four men burst through the door of a seedy hotel and with overgrown scythes and sickles — locally called choppers — hacked their victim to death. So ended the saga of 35-year-old Ganesha, whose life, at first glance, appeared to be a reflection of the Indian dream: zero to hero.


This is an Indian story. A semi-literate coolie rises to be the panchayat president of Kuvinadu East village in Tamil Nadu’s Pudukottai district, a dry, impoverished corner of India that was — despite its poverty — declared totally literate in 2008. To the Bangalore police, Ganesha had another identity. He was called Gate Ganesha, because he began his hardscrabble life near an area called Kalasipalya Gate, where he eventually became president of the Coolie Collective.


Gate Ganesha was a ‘rowdy’ or ‘rowdy-sheeter’, a colourful euphemism in prosperous Bangalore for a habitual extortionist. Five days after ‘Gate’ was slain, another rowdy, 45-year-old ‘Poone’ or Narasimha Murthy, was pulled out of his Scorpio SUV and similarly done to death while he chatted with an associate called ‘Garden’ Seena, doubtless a man with some influence in the Garden city (Oh yes, the same week also saw a death sentence for ‘Cyanide’ Mallika, a 60-year-old mother — whose daughter has just qualified as a fashion designer — with a penchant for conning and poisoning female temple devotees).

Rowdies are a breed that precede the infotech boom and are undiminished by it. Only the names and modes of extortion change. In the 1980s, there was ‘Murgi’ or ‘Koli’ (Kannada for chicken) Fiyaz, who lived off protection money from chicken markets. There was ‘Oil’ Kumar, to whom petrol stations coughed up a percentage of their dues.


Whatever the generation, the rowdies of India’s Silicon Valley have three things in common: flashy names, a desire for a better life and political affiliations to make that happen. Gate Ganesha belonged to the AIADMK, the party of Puratchi Thalaivi (Revolutionary Leader) J. Jayalalithaa. ‘Poone’ was a close acquaintance of a former Congress MLA and was known in police circles as a ‘vote catcher’, someone who influenced neighbourhoods to vote for a particular party, through not-so-gentle persuasion, bribery or booze.


The rowdy subculture affects vast swathes of the other Bangalore, the 6 million or so who don’t make their living from the flat world. Right now, there are 1,814 rowdies listed in police records. They have evolved with the times; many run businesses used by globalised Bangalore, which is unaware of the rowdy’s hand in, say, land deals or taxi  services.


If ambition- and aspiration-driven Bangalore cannot shrug off the lore and era of the rowdy, it is hard to imagine how emerging India might discard criminality as it prepares to elect its 15th Lok Sabha. In the 14th Lok Sabha, about 84 of 543 MPs had serious criminal records, according to the Association for Democratic Reforms. With vote shares of major parties decreasing and the field becoming increasingly more crowded, it will be possible for candidates to squeeze out a victory with as little as 20 to 30 per cent of the popular vote.
In the north, particularly in Bihar and UP, criminal politicians directly drive, give voice to or fulfil aspiration where the state has either collapsed or functions in fits and starts. For jailed criminals like UP’s Mukhtar Ansari and Bihar’s Mohammed Shahabuddin, personal ambition and populism neatly coalesce in a discoloured rainbow of democratic reality.


Ansari, an MLA from Mau, freely dispenses favours and money to the poor from his jail cell. Similarily in Siwan, MP Shahabuddin (42) may be a murder convict but his Engineering and Technology Institute is the only government-recognised engineering college in a vast swathe of dirt-poor badland, his criminality irrelevant to thousands.


India’s explosion of aspiration will power criminality further. Aspiration, of course, is not all dark. It has also allowed men who fought criminals to represent the people. In the same Bangalore, the Congress candidate from the prestigious Bangalore Central constituency is Hmar Tlawmte Sangliana, a Mizo, devout Presbyterian Christian and former police commissioner immortalised in three Kannada movies, S.P. Sangliana I, Sangliana II and Sangliana III.


“Here, thousands of miles away in a land far from the home of my father, the support of the people here, who love me, and above all the unending support from my father above — these are the two indispensable forces that drive me forward,” said Sangliana last week, as he started his campaign to return to Parliament (he was a BJP MP in the last Lok Sabha, voting against his party on the nuclear deal).


Bangalore will see other electoral firsts: a techie and an IIM professor as candidates. Above all, this election is about possibility. The criminalisation of our politics is a deep, complex issue that stretches into our lives and minds. Let’s not allow it to overwhelm our hopes for a new India.

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