The Congress is set to retain the post of mayor in the BBMP after sealing an alliance with the JD(S), which will get the post of deputy mayor, for the elections scheduled on Wednesday September 28.
The alliance was finalised on Sunday evening during a meeting between Congress State president G. Parameshwar and JD(S) State president H.D. Kumaraswamy.
However, JD(S) leaders are learnt to have played hard ball and sought the post of president of six standing committees, up from two at present. Mr. Parameshwar is said to have sought time to discuss the issue with the chief minister.
Of the 14 JD(S) councillors, eight are from wards in the Assembly constituencies represented by suspended JD(S) MLAs B.Z. Zameer Ahmed Khan (Chamarajpet), Akhanda Srinivasmurthy (Pulakeshinagar) and K. Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout). Sources said all three have promised support to the Congress during the mayoral elections.
However, sources said, Mr. Khan is keen on fielding a councillor from his constituency for the post of deputy mayor. He is seeking support from two other JD(S) MLAs to ensure the victory of his loyalist.
BJP will put up a fight
Meanwhile, the principal opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to field candidates in the election.
“100 per cent we will field our candidates in the mayoral elections,” said former deputy chief minister and BJP MLA R. Ashok.
Addressing presspersons on Sunday, he said the party’s legislators and councillors would meet on Tuesday to decide the names.
He accused the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) of striking an ‘unholy alliance’ last year to capture power in the BBMP but had so far done nothing for the development of infrastructure.
In the 2015 elections, B.N. Manjunath Reddy of the Congress was elected mayor and Hemalatha Gopalaiah became the deputy mayor. Hemalatha Gopalaiah is married to MLA K. Gopalaiah.
