Lobbying at full throttle for MCC hot seat

Mayor elections: BJP dangles carrot of benefits for JD(S)

While Janata Dal (Secular) that ran the show for a year with Sandesh Swamy decorating the seat, is mulling with the idea of going with BJP, Congress is also leaving no stone unturned to keep it’s alliance with JD(S) alive.  Congress’ backed Independent Pushpalatha Jagannath was Deputy Mayor during JD(S) rule.

Interestingly for Congress, it’s a pick between two friends and first time councillors- Rihana Bhanu (Ward no 40) and Pushpalatha T B Chikkanna (Ward 24) for candidature. A meeting to decide the candidate, attended by MLAs V Sreenivas Prasad, Tanvir Sait and M Satyanarayan and aspirants at a hotel on Wednesday, failed to arrive on a consensus.  
As Mayor’s post this time is reserved for BCM (A) woman, both have indeed emerged as strong contenders. Shamshad Begum (wife of former mayor Arif Hussain), another Corporator of the party representing Ward 47 in the local body too had thrown her weight behind, but in vain. She backed off from the race in a recent meeting, enabling Rihana Bhanu of the same community.

Rihana Bhanu’s husband Syed Akram Pasha, president of Tipu Block Congress, is seeking the blessings of party leaders, for the relentless service he has been rendering for the past 28 years. “It’s payback time for the national party that has never let down its loyal workers”, says an acolyte of Pasha, who didn’t want to be named.

In the case of Pushpalatha, her husband T B Chikkanna having been elected to the coveted seat earlier- could be the only reason that could miss her the chair. More than this, what’s worrying the party that has over 100 years of history is- seven corporators- who had  been disqualified by Regional Commissioner’s Court here on March 21.
Recently, they got a reprieve when High Court ordered for a stay on the lower court’s order.

But the issue is far from over yet. It’s only when the order copy reaches MCC, those corporators will be allowed to vote. Otherwise, the party has to stay content with just 16 corporators, one MP and two MLAs guaranteeing 19 votes for them.

JD(S) that’s already running the show with BJP in Zilla Panchayat, in all probability wants to extend the tie to MCC too. The only reason being- truck with the saffron party has rich dividends with the same party in power in the State.

Sources told Deccan Herald, both the parties have apprised their higher ups of the benefits it could bring and are waiting for the nod.  If it comes through, Asha Lakshminarayan of BJP, representing Ward 11 will be the Mayor (She being the lone candidate from the stipulated category) and JD(S)- deputy mayor, reserved for general category. It doesn’t mean, JD(S) lacks a candidate for Mayor. Lakshmamma of Ward 48 belongs to the same category, but she deserting the party earlier to embrace BJP, only to renew the ties with parent party later, may go against her. Overall, her chances are thin, said a leader.

Senior Corporators K T Chaluvegowda (Ward 27) and R Lingappa (Ward 20) and first timer M J Ravikumar (Ward 35) are vying with each other for Deputy Mayorship. The name of independent K Sunandakumar (Ward 39) is also doing rounds. He had voted for JD(S) candidate Sandesh Swamy during the previous polls. The final picture is expected to emerge on Friday (April 28) when BJP Corporators led by MUDA Chairman L Nagendra will be meeting higher ups in Bangalore.