Big win for BJP as it bags mayor and deputy mayor posts in Mysuru City Corporation

MYSURU: For the first time in the history of Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), BJP now occupies both mayor and deputy mayor posts. Although it was BJP’s Sunanda Palanethra who became the first BJP mayor in August last year, the deputy mayor’s post was held by Congress.
Divisions within JD(S) on Tuesday helped BJP to win the mayoral polls with its candidate Shivakumar getting elected as the mayor, while it faltered from bagging the deputy mayor’s post due to technical reasons. BJP’s G Roopa won the deputy mayor’s post. Newly elected mayor’s father Puttaiah served as dafedar for mayor.
It was a last-minute alliance between JD(S) and BJP that helped the saffron party to get the mayor’s post for the second time in a row. But district in-charge minister ST Somashekar insisted that JD(S) corporators voted for Shivakumar as he has friends in the JD(S) camp. Somashekar insisted that BJP has not entered into an alliance with JD(S).
However, furious JD(S) leaders criticised BJP leaders of double speak and have asked the party leaders to direct the new deputy mayor to step down so that the JD(S) candidate can be elected as per their agreement.
Although the mayor’s post was reserved for the general category, BJP fielded Shivakumar, a functionary from the scheduled tribe community and third-time corporator, who won with the support of JD(S). While Congress candidate Syed Hasrath Ulla secured 28 votes, Shivakumar polled 47 votes. Savud Khan, a JD(S) corporator from Satyanagar Ward No. 14 remained neutral both in mayor and deputy mayor elections.
Drama unfolded during the deputy mayor election as JD(S) candidate Reshma Bhanu’s nomination was rejected on technical grounds as she didn’t submit her caste certificate along with the nomination paper. BJP made the most of it getting its nominee Roopa elected easily.
Congress corporators alleged that JD(S) lost the deputy mayor’s post to a plot hatched by BJP. However, Somashekar denied it and blamed it on the rejection of JD(S) candidate’s nomination papers.
Speaking to reporters after the election, Somashekar informed that the result is on expected lines. “We wanted to make a leader from the Nayaka community as the MCC mayor. Even though the mayor’s post was reserved for the general category, we all unanimously decided to make a person from Nayaka community as the next mayor. Shivakumar took all the party corporators including independents into confidence. He even had appealed to his friends in Congress. There was no political understanding with JD(S), he clarified.
At the beginning of the election, NR MLA Tanveer Sait, a Congress MLA made a last minute effort to win the votes of GT Devegowda and other supporters. However, BJP members including MP Pratap Simha opposed this. Although Congress tried to win the mayor’s post using the disgruntled leaders, BJP was able to retain the post.
Cong took JD (S) corporator into confidence
Congress leaders who were eyeing the mayor’s post were able to convince JD(S) corporator Nirmala K to support the party candidate. With her support, the party was able to garner 28 votes. However, the secret alliance between BJP and JD(S) foiled Congress’s bid. As Nirmala voted for the Congress candidate in the mayor election, JD(S) members supported the BJP candidate in the deputy mayor election too.
According to the sources, JD(S) rebel candidate Nirmala is considered close to the former minister, and Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda. Her decision to rebel against the party decision raised eyebrows and caused tremors in the JD(S) circles.
Meanwhile, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said JD(S) supported BJP in mayoral polls following its previous experience with Congress. As BJP has enough numbers, the party fielded the candidate for both mayor and deputy mayor posts, and won. He declined to comment on continuing alliance with JD(S) for assembly elections.
Corporator on ventilator support casts vote
BJP corporator Ashwini Sharat arrived in an ambulance just before the start of the election process. Regional commissioner GC Prakash said she arrived with ventilator support and had obtained permission to cast her vote in the election.