The Hindu : Mysore Mayoral poll to be a Congress show

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Mysore Mayoral poll to be a Congress show

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE June 27 . The Housing Minister, Sageer Ahmed, and the former MP, Hanumanthappa, are expected to arrive here as Congress observers tomorrow to oversee the mayoral election scheduled for June 30.

Mr. Sageer Ahmed and Mr. Hanumanthappa, who is also the Vice-President of the KPCC, will elicit the views of corporators belonging to the Congress before finalising the party's nominees for the posts of Mayor, which is reserved for women (General) and Deputy Mayor, which is reserved for candidates from the BC `A' category. Though nine women corporators from the party are in the reckoning for the party's nomination to the post of Mayor, which has been reserved for women for the first time in the Mysore City Corporation, sources in the Congress indicated that the two-time corporators, Modamani, and Yashodhamma, were among the front-runners for the top post. As far as the post of Deputy Mayor is concerned, corporators from Muslim, Idiga, and Kuruba communities will stake their claim. The mayoral election is expected to be a Congress show in view of the party's strength in the 65-member civic body. The Congress not only has 37 corporators but also enjoys the support of an MLA, an MLC, and an MP, who are expected to bolster the party's voting strength.

In contrast, the JD(S) has 18 members besides an MLC, taking its strength to 19. The BJP's strength is 13, which includes two MLAs and an MLC. The JD(S) has decided against the idea of fielding candidates for the mayoral election, which will coincide with a party function, "Spoorthi Samavesha". The party has decided against contesting the election in view of the "slim" chances of its candidates getting elected. However, the party will extend support to any "rebel" Congress candidate. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting chaired by the JD(S) State unit President, Siddaramaiah, here recently.

The BJP will, however, field its candidates for the two posts. "We will contest the elections," the BJP MLA, A. Ramdas, said.

Along with Ms. Modamani and Ms. Yashodhamma, Vokkaligas, Ms. Bharathi, an ST, and Ms. Mahadevappa, a Lingayat, are making out a case for their nomination by the Congress for the post of Mayor. Though Ms. Modamani's seniority in the party and the civic body is expected to hold her in good stead, Ms. Yashodhamma's candidature will be supported by her educational qualification. Ms. Yashodhamma holds B.Sc and B.Ed. degrees. Party leaders said that the final choice might narrow down to the two corporators from the Vokkaliga community.

However, Ms. Mahadevamma is expected to argue that Vokkaligas have held the post of Mayor, and now it is the turn of Lingayats. B.K. Prakash, the first Mayor, belonged to the Vokkaliga community.

Sources in the Congress said the post of Deputy Mayor was likely to go to a man from Muslim, Idiga, or Kuruba communities. The Congress MLA, Tanvir Sait, said the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, had responded positively to a proposal made by him to nominate a Muslim corporator for the post of Deputy Mayor. "Save for Shafi Ahmed, who is the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health, Muslims have not received any representation in the civic body."

Apart from Ayub Khan and Syed Akram, Vasu and Ramesh were also in the race for the post of Deputy Mayor, the sources said.

The corporation has had 18 mayors. It never had a woman mayor. However, sources said Soundaramma Venkatesh was the President when Mysore was administered by a municipality in 1962.

However, the choice of candidates by the Congress for the two posts is expected to be preceded by intense lobbying.

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