BENGALURU: With H D Kumaraswamy at the helm in the state, JD(S) seems to be now eyeing the Mayor’s post in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike Council. The Congress and JD(S) coalition in the state government have kept the BJP — the single largest party — out of power. A similar strategy was used in the BBMP Council in 2015.
BJP had won 101 seats (including one independent), followed by Congress 76, and JD(S) 14, while six independents supported to bring the Congress-JD(S) alliance to power. According to the understanding reached between the two parties, Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts are given to Congress and JD(S) respectively.
Though BJP has a simple majority in the BBMP Council, MLA, MLCs and MPs too have the power to vote in Mayoral polls and hence the Congress-JD(S) coalition has more seats than the saffron party. There are 266 voters for Mayoral election.
Ever since the alliance was formed in 2015, the same equation has been followed.But with JD(S) now in power at the state, party members and councillors feel they should be given the post of Mayor. With the Lok Sabha polls just a year away, JD(S) seems to be taking no chance in getting the grip of the state capital.
“We are supporting Congress for the last three years. They enjoyed the Mayor post and this time, they should give it to JD(S) . There is time. We are going to ask them and I am sure Congress will not deny,” said JD(S) MLC Saravana, adding that the reservation for the Mayor’s and Deputy Mayor’s posts was yet to be announced. “We will make sure it will be in our favour,” he said.
JD(S) MLA Gopaliah was also keen on taking this chance. “We will discuss with our party high command and decide,’’ he told The New Indian Express.The present Mayor Sampath Raj’s term will end in three months.
“Last year, too, JD(S) demanded the Mayor’s post. We somehow managed by giving the post of Standing Committee Chairman for Taxation and Finance to them and also allowed a JD(S) member to present the budget ... they settled down for the Deputy Mayor’s post. But this time, they are in power. If they demand, we might have to give up the Mayor’s post to JD(S) and settle with
Deputy Mayor’s post,” said a Congress source.