<p>The pro-Kannada staged a protest outside the BBMP office on Monday alleging that the new mayor was not a Kannadiga. </p>.<p>Vatal Nagaraj and his associates raised slogans in front of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) against the election of Goutham Kumar as BBMP mayor.<br /><br />“Election of Goutham Kumar as the mayor for Bengaluru is a sad affair. Bengaluru, which is the capital of Karnataka, is 'Kannadigara Nadu' (land of Kannadigas) established by Nadaprabhu Kempegowda,” he said, adding that Kumar was an outsider.</p>.<p>'I am a Kannadiga'</p>.<p>Meanwhile, responding to the protest, Goutham Kumar said: "I am a Kannadiga and son of a farmer. I am from Siraguppa taluk in Ballari district. I will talk to all the pro-Kannada activists personally and request them to cooperate. I would stand for the state, Kannada language and Bengaluru at any situation.”</p>.<p>Meantime, Union minister and former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda also lashed out at the protesters for trying to find fault in candidature.</p>.<p>Another BJP MLC from Bengaluru, belonging to the Jain community, Lahar Singh Siroya, said: "Mayoral elections showed the magnanimity of Bengaluru. Bengaluru, as a cosmopolitan city, has always embraced people from all sects and regions of India.</p>.<p>"With Goutham's selection, Bengalureans have yet again demonstrated their large-heartedness, and I express my gratitude to the people of Bengaluru. I am confident that the new mayor will live up to the expectations of the Bengalureans."</p>
<p>The pro-Kannada staged a protest outside the BBMP office on Monday alleging that the new mayor was not a Kannadiga. </p>.<p>Vatal Nagaraj and his associates raised slogans in front of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) against the election of Goutham Kumar as BBMP mayor.<br /><br />“Election of Goutham Kumar as the mayor for Bengaluru is a sad affair. Bengaluru, which is the capital of Karnataka, is 'Kannadigara Nadu' (land of Kannadigas) established by Nadaprabhu Kempegowda,” he said, adding that Kumar was an outsider.</p>.<p>'I am a Kannadiga'</p>.<p>Meanwhile, responding to the protest, Goutham Kumar said: "I am a Kannadiga and son of a farmer. I am from Siraguppa taluk in Ballari district. I will talk to all the pro-Kannada activists personally and request them to cooperate. I would stand for the state, Kannada language and Bengaluru at any situation.”</p>.<p>Meantime, Union minister and former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda also lashed out at the protesters for trying to find fault in candidature.</p>.<p>Another BJP MLC from Bengaluru, belonging to the Jain community, Lahar Singh Siroya, said: "Mayoral elections showed the magnanimity of Bengaluru. Bengaluru, as a cosmopolitan city, has always embraced people from all sects and regions of India.</p>.<p>"With Goutham's selection, Bengalureans have yet again demonstrated their large-heartedness, and I express my gratitude to the people of Bengaluru. I am confident that the new mayor will live up to the expectations of the Bengalureans."</p>
