“Politics and public life flow in my veins. My great-grandfather was a freedom fighter who was imprisoned during the Independence struggle. My grandfather was a legislator during the K.C. Reddy government. My mother was a gram panchayat member and later member of the Byatarayanapura City Municipal Council. I am happy to be taking this proud tradition forward,” remarked Indira, who was elected Deputy Mayor on Wednesday.
A first
For the first time in the history of the city corporation, both the Mayor and Deputy Mayor belong to different parties. While Mayor B.S. Sathyanarayana is from the ruling BJP, Ms. Indira is from the Opposition Congress.
Speaking to reporters, the newly elected Deputy Mayor said that she would concentrate on the health and education. She said that she would also work towards ensuring that the city that had earned the moniker of Garbage City becomes Garden City once again. This, she said, could be achieved by solving the garbage problem and greening the city by planting more saplings and improving the parks.
Ms. Indira also said that she would work with the Mayor and fulfil all the duties of the Deputy Mayor, as per Section 61(3) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976.
She said that she would work towards tabling the Administrative Report before the council, which will help bring in transparency in the BBMP.