Cong corporators for retaining power with JD(S) help

Congress corporators and workers want the party’s leadership to continue the alliance with the JD(S) in the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and keep the BJP away from power “in the interests of the city”.

At a meeting called by KPCC president G Parameshwara on Saturday, they referred to the initiatives taken for the development of the city in the last one year. This was possible because the Congress is holding the reins of power in the BBMP with the JD(S) support, they said.

The state Congress had called the meeting to discuss the steps needed to maintain peace in Bengaluru following the protests over the Cauvery issue. The party leaders asked the corporators and workers to ensure that the incidents of arson and violence do not recur.

Speaking to reporters later, KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao said that he and Parameshwara would soon meet JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on continuing the alliance. The Congress will finalise the mayoral candidate once the JD(S) confirmed the alliance, he added.

A source in the JD(S) said Kumaraswamy was presently in Hyderabad for the audio release (Telugu version) of his son’s debut film “Jaguar.” He is expected to return to Bengaluru on September 21. JD(S) rebel MLAs in Bengaluru, who claim to have the support of eight of the 14 corporators, insist that they be part of the meeting to finalise the alliance. But Kumaraswamy is not ready to entertain the rebels, the source added.

Elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor are scheduled for September 28.