Ali's kin may contest by-election

Opposition Leader from JD(S), Padmanabha Reddy stated that the murder of Deewana Ali was a blow to the party and his vacancy will be filled by re-election process. “We will decide to field a candidate for the ward after discussing the issue with the party state President, H D Kumaraswamy,” he said.

Mayor S K Nataraj said the State Election Commission (SEC) will decide on the elections in the next three to five months. According to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act of 1976, a by-election has to be held to fill the vacancy within six months.

Sources in the JD(S) did not rule out  that a member of Deewana Ali’s family may be given the ticket in the by-elections as the sympathy wave may prove helpful for the party in retaining the seat. “For now, we will wait before approaching his family,” said a party member. 

Development projects in Banashankari ward will come to a standstill now that Ali is no more. Nataraj stated that Ali had approached him three days ago, asking for Rs three crore from the Mayor’s fund for various projects in his ward that needed immediate attention. The Mayor promised to sanction Rs 50 lakh, if Ali gave his request in writing.

“While he might have been known to be a rowdy sheeter, Ali had mended his ways and was working towards the well being of his ward,” said Nataraj.

The Mayor said the local MLA will take on the responsibility of monitoring the projects in Banashankari Temple ward till the time a new representative is elected.

“We will not let the people suffer on account of this unfortunate incident and will carry out the projects as presented by Deewana Ali when he was alive,” he said.