With Congress, BJP on par, Mysore City Corporation polls to be close fight

MYSURU: Mayoral polls are likely to witness a close fight with Congress' strength increasing to 27, which is the same as BJP with the inclusion of three new MLCs from the party to the voters' list.
Even though newly elected Congress MLC Dinesh Guligowda is elected from neighbouring Mandya district from the local authorities' segment, he is a resident of the city and hence has been added to the list. Along with him, JD(S) MLC CN Manjegowda, Congress MLCs D Thimmayya, and Madhu Madegowda have also found a place on the voters' list changing the equation in the corporation.
With these inclusions, Congress's strength has gone up to 27. This has made the lone BSP member and JD(S) kingmakers if JD(S) does not join hands with any party.
According to Mysuru City Corporation commissioner G Lakshmikantha Reddy, the total strength of the electorate for the mayoral polls is 76. This includes 65 corporators, six MLCs, four MLAs and one MP.
As per the final electorate released ahead of the mayoral elections on September 6, Congress and BJP are tied at 27 votes followed by JD(S) with 21 votes. BSP has a lone member.
What has raised the confidence in the Congress camp is BJP's decision to field candidates for both mayor and deputy mayor posts without any alliance with JD(S). Adding to this, one of the JD(S) MLCs Marithibbe Gowda is not active in the party activities and supported Congress candidate Madhu Madegowda in the recently held MLC election for the South Graduate's constituency.
Even though nominated BJP MLC AH Vishwanath has been critical of the party, he made it clear that he will cast his vote for the party candidate. "I am a BJP member, and I will toe the party line. I will cast my vote for the party candidate," he said.
BSP corporator Begum Palavi informed that she would follow the directions of the party state unit. "Last time, I remained neutral. This time, I will cast my vote according to the party decision," she said.