BNV makes a good start

So far so good. That's Jayanagar MLA BN Vijayakumar's score card in the first month of his tenure. TWB's Kishore Joseph spent a day with him and found that the MLA has been off to a good start.

Most of the roads in and around Jayanagar and JP Nagar are being re-tarred with noticeably good quality work. Within one month of his tenure as MLA, BN Vijayakumar has not allowed any dust to gather under his feet, and has shown that he means business in his no-nonsense style.

Vijayakumar will soon set up a grievance cell in Jayanagar 'T' Block with an official to handle grievances of the people. As it is, his house is a beehive of activity with people pouring in from 7 am. The people coming include ordinary citizens, police officials, gazetted officers, and the like, says one of his aides.

It is not possible to solve all the problems of all the people, says Vijayakumar in his trademark candid manner. But whatever is legally possible and is legitimate, these are solved without exception, he said.
Talking about his interaction with the people, he revealed that a group of citizens from Tilaknagar approached him for constructing a structure near a mosque. They wanted to put up a pole with a flag on the footpath. The construction would have been illegal, and so I refused to consider it pointing out that it was not proper and within the legal limits, he said. He directed the group to approach the police or the BBMP authorities for getting their clearance first.

A woman quarry worker came with her husband who was carrying a severe leg injury, and sought his financial assistance. Vijayakumar promptly agreed to help her and asked her to come the next day. He also advised her drunkard husband not to misuse the money given for his medical assistance.
A group of vegetable vendors from the Jayanagar vegetable market called on him and appealed to him to settle their problems. Vijayakumar responded saying he would arrange for a one to one meet with the BBMP Commissioner to resolve their grievances.

On his campaign route, Vijayakumar used to repeatedly say he was one among the people and would remain so even if he became an MLA. Looking at his interactions with the people of his constituency, it would be fair to say that he has indeed kept up his promise. So far so good.

On Monday, BNV hosted a thanksgiving meet for all his party workers and supporters at the GNR Kalyana Mantap, Jayanagar. The warmth and affection shown by the gathering had to be seen to be believed. It almost seemed like BNV was being feted like the party's Bhishma Patamah Atal Behari Vajpayee, a bachelor like Vijayakumar. Former corporators CK Ramamurthy, B Somashekar and SK Nataraj were among the prominent participants.