The resignation of five Bengaluru city MLAs — four Congress and one JD(S) led by former Minister Ramalinga Reddy — and their imminent shift to the BJP has shaken up Bengaluru politics like no other, especially as it comes a month before the mayoral polls.
Another Congress MLA Sowmya Reddy is also expected to resign, taking the total number of ‘rebel’ MLAs to six in the city. The collapse of the government would only mean a breakdown of the Congress-JD(S) alliance, which will pave the way for the BJP to capture the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) as well, senior councillors analyse.
The rebellion has brought the deep rumbles of the city politics to the fore. The rebels have blamed the administration for “not taking them into confidence”. The apparent powerlessness of Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara, alleged domination of JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna, and neglect of city infrastructure were cited as the prime reasons for the rebellion.
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MLAs Munirathna, Byrathi Basavaraj, and S.T. Somashekhar — all close associates of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, were called “super mayors” for their influence in the city and over the BBMP.
Speaking to mediapersons on Sunday, Mr. Munirathna said Dr. Parameshwara has no power and Mr. Revanna was trying to put roadblocks to the city’s development. “The elevated corridor is a 102-km-long flyover criss-crossing the city and carried out by the Public Works Department. Were any of the city MLAs consulted over its alignment? We have been asking for a metro line between Mysuru Road and Tumakuru Road along the Outer Ring Road. But nobody listens to us,” he complained, and said he would go with any party that supports development, be it BJP or any other.
The trio lost importance during the coalition rule. Though Mr. Somashekhar was made the BDA chairman, he complained that he had no freedom to work here. They complained that they were targeted by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister as they were close associates of Mr. Siddaramaiah, a senior Congressman from the city said. Strangely, while Mr. Ramalinga Reddy was unhappy with Mr. Siddaramaiah over his exclusion from the Cabinet, the three MLAs have now been terming Mr. Reddy as their leader.
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What has also become a bone of contention is the recent ward delimitation exercise. “Dr. Parameshwara is from Tumakuru and has no stake in the city. He has never taken along city MLAs from the party. How could he spearhead the delimitation exercise? While he will be elected from Koratagere, it is we who will bear its brunt,” said a rebel MLA.
All five MLAs, including K. Gopalaiah from the JD(S), have been key to capturing power in the BBMP, including ensuring the support of seven Independent councillors. With all five expected to move to the BJP, the alliance may fall apart and mayoral aspirants in BJP have already started lobbying with the party. The incumbent Mayor’s term will end on September 28 when elections will be held. Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun is a key follower of Mr. Reddy and is rumoured to be considering shifting to the BJP at a later stage.
Not just the BBMP, if the six rebel MLAs contest bypolls on BJP ticket, most of them are expected to win, which will shift the balance of power in the city. The Congress won 15 seats, BJP 11 and JD(S) 2 in the 2018 Assembly polls. The BJP that won all three MP seats will mop up more Assembly seats in such a scenario.