The mayoral polls that were expected to be a foregone conclusion were suddenly infused with much drama on Friday. While the Congress had a tough time selecting its mayor candidate, two independent councillors who supported the Congress-JDS coalition in the last three years, reportedly switched sides to the BJP raising fears of ‘Operation Kamala’ in the coalition camp.
The Congress immediately shifted the remaining five independent councillors to an undisclosed location.
However, the numbers are still in favour of the coalition. In an electoral college of 259 that includes all legislators from the city, the Congress-JDS and eight independent councillors in the BBMP add up to 136 votes. The BJP presently has 123 votes.
“Even if two independent councillors shift to the BJP, the coalition number will be down to 134. Union ministers H. N. Ananth Kumar and Nirmala Sitharaman are expected to be absent, bringing down the BJP’s numbers to 121. Support of two independent councillors will only make up for their absence,” explained a senior Congress leader and former minister.
According to a BJP leader and former minister, there is intense factionalism in the Congress over selection of the mayoral candidate. He added that the BJP would make ‘a serious effort’ if the Congress internal crisis precipitated and if a mayoral aspirant was ready to switch sides with her supporters. However, Congress leaders denied that there was a crisis at hand. Thursday was marked by intense lobbying in the Congress camp. P. Sowmya, a two-time councillor from Shantinagar, and Gangambika, a two-time councillor from Jayanagar, were the two contenders.
While D.K. Shivakumar, K.J. George and MLA N.A. Haris were said to be lobbying for Ms. Sowmya, Ramalinga Reddy was lobbying for the candidature of Gangambika. At least three meetings were held by the Congress to select the mayor candidate.
Two meetings of senior Congress leaders, led by Siddaramaiah, Dr. G. Parameshwara, KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao and all Bengaluru leaders on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, failed to resolve the issue. City MLAs were called one by one and their opinion sought. This was followed by a meeting where the opinions of senior councillors were sought. Finally, late Thursday night, sources in the Congress said that the party had finalised the candidature of Gangambike.
The JD(S) was expected to name its candidate for the post of deputy mayor on Friday morning.
The candidates for both posts will submit their nominations on Friday morning between 8 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. The elections will be held at 11.30 a.m. Voting will be done by counting hands.
