BENGALURU: The mayoral elections are round the corner again and all the three major parties -- Congress, BJP and JD(S) -- are already strategising to bag the plum posts. With JD(S) threatening to pull out of the coalition with Congress, it could well be anybody’s game. The term of the incumbent mayor G Padmavathi (Congress) and Deputy Mayor Anand (JD-S) ends next month.
This year, the mayor’s post is reserved for SC category while the deputy mayor’s post is reserved for General (Woman). Aspirants from different parties have already started lobbying for the tops posts in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
While the Congress hopes to retain the Mayor’s post, its partner JD (S) is threatening to pull out of the alliance. If that happens, BJP, which is the single largest party in the council, will stand to gain.
During the 2015 election, BJP won 100 seats (one independent candidate also supported BJP), Congress got 76, JD(S) bagged 14 while seven seats were won by independent candidates. Though BJP had the majority in the Council, since MLA, MLCs and MPs too have the power to cast vote to choose Mayor and Deputy Mayor, Congress managed to grab the top post with the help of JD (S).
JD(S) MLC and spokesperson Ramesh Babu said that post alliance, JD(S)members were not treated well by the Congress. “For the last two years, we have voted for a Congress mayor, but this time, we want our own candidate in the post. We will decide about this soon,” he said.
Recently, JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy had expressed displeasure over Bengaluru Development Minister K J George’s intervention in the day-to-day administration of the BBMP. JD(S) is likely to stick to its demand for the Mayor’s post.
However, senior Congress councillor R S Sathyanarayana said they may convince the JD(S) members to settle for the depury mayor’s post. “Their numbers are less. The same system will continue for the third year too. The mayor will be from Congress and Deputy mayor from JD(S),’’ he said.
The Congress aspirants for the mayor’s post are Sampathraj from Devarajeevana Halli ward and Govindaraju from Subashnagar ward, both senior councillors. “There are many councillors who fit the bill, but we are looking for someone who is senior and experienced. This will be crucial as it is the election year as well,’’ Sathyanarayana said.
Congress sources said Sampathraj’s chances of becoming mayor is high as he has been with the party for the last 30 years. Govindaraju, though a third-timer, joined Congress in 2015 (he was with JDS during the last two terms).
Sampath said, “I am associated with Congress since I was a student. I represent D J Halli where Asia’s largest slum is located and I have developed it. I have raised many issues related to the city in the past seven years. I will be happy to take up the responsibility.”
BJP also seems to be leaving no stone unturned. “We have 101 members, including one independent candidate supporting us. Congress changed the addresses of a few MLCs to show they are residents of Bengaluru and gave them voting power for the mayoral elections in 2015. JD(S) too has learnt lessons in the last two years by joining hands with the Congress. A few JD(S) leaders have shown interest to join hands with us. If that is the case, the next Mayor will be from BJP,’’ a BJP leader in Council said .
Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy (BJP) said, “Last year too, JD(S) wanted to withdraw support, but did not. This year, it is up to our leaders to decide the future course of action.”