MNM to field 1,521 candidates in civic polls
The Hindu
The party is likely to go it alone
The Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) is set to identify close to 1,521 candidates for the upcoming local bodies elections, which will be held in nine districts on October 6 and 9.
Party founder Kamal Haasan is likely to campaign. Vice-president A.G. Mourya said a zonal or district secretary had been put in charge of each of the nine districts. “They will forward the names of potential candidates to the State committee, which includes senior party members such as Thangavelu, Sripriyaa and Senthil Arumugam. We will identify 1,521 candidates,” he said, adding that the party might go it alone.
“We will field good candidates... We are working hard,” Mr. Mourya said, admitting that the local bodies elections held in rural areas might pose several challenges to a party that has grown only in urban areas.
Hampi, the UNESCO-recognised historical site, was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire from 1336 to 1565. Foreign travellers from Persia, Europe and other parts of the world have chronicled the wealth of the place and the unique cultural mores of this kingdom built on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. There are fine descriptions to be found of its temples, farms, markets and trading links, remnants of which one can see in the ruins now. The Literature, architecture of this era continue inspire awe.
Unfurling the zine handed to us at the start of the walk, we use brightly-coloured markers to draw squiggly cables across the page, starting from a sepia-toned vintage photograph of the telegraph office. Iz, who goes by the pronouns they/them, explains, “This building is still standing, though it shut down in 2013,” they say, pointing out that telegraphy, which started in Bengaluru in 1854, was an instrument of colonial power and control. “The British colonised lands via telegraph cables, something known as the All Red Line.”
The festival in Bengaluru is happening at various locations, including ATREE in Jakkur, Bangalore Creative Circus in Yeshwantpur, Courtyard Koota in Kengeri, and Medai the Stage in Koramangala. The festival will also take place in various cities across Karnataka including Tumakuru, Ramanagara, Mandya, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davangere, Chamarajanagar and Mysuru.