The Bangalore Hotels Association has asked the Karnataka government to withdraw a Bengaluru dry day order issued for the biennial elections to four Legislative Council seats, warning that the restrictions could cause hospitality businesses to lose more than Rs 500 crore.
In a letter dated October 13 to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, the association said dry day restrictions had been declared from 4 pm on October 21 until October 23, and again on October 27, the day votes are counted. The association said the order would affect bars, restaurants and pubs, while also reducing revenue for the state government’s Excise Department.
The elections to two graduates’ constituencies and two teachers’ constituencies will be held on October 23 from 8 am to 4 pm. The constituencies going to the polls are Karnataka South-East Graduates’, Karnataka West Graduates’, Karnataka North-East Teachers’ and Bangalore Teachers’.
The association questioned the decision to impose restrictions across Bengaluru city, excluding the Police Commissionerate limits, for an election involving what it described as a limited electorate. It said the polls involved around 20,000 voters, of whom approximately 15,000 were women.
In its representation, the association said imposing the dry day would cause unnecessary hardship to liquor vendors and the wider hospitality industry. It also claimed that the combined business losses could exceed Rs 500 crore and adversely affect collections by the Excise Department.
The association urged the Chief Minister to withdraw the order covering both polling and vote counting. The supplied report does not indicate whether the state government has accepted the request or announced any change to the declared restriction dates.
