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Wife follows better half to power

Last Updated 29 April 2011, 16:56 IST
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Pushpalatha T B Chikkanna created a history, becoming the ‘first citizen of the city’ after her husband T B Chikkanna, who had held the reins in 2001-02. Another speciality is, she is also the first timer, who was fortunate to wear the gown, during the tenure.

Earlier, if there was any couple who had scaled to power were- H N Srikantaiah and his wife Shanthakumari, who had served as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.

Soft spoken and shy in nature, Pushpalatha holds BA degree. Her entry into the hustings was a forced one, as her husband lost the constituency he represented owing to delimitation of wards. She contested in the constituency (ward 24) reserved for woman, where her husband also enjoyed enough clout. That was how, she tasted her first victory in the run up to the local body.

Barring the hiccups she had to face with her friend in the council and fellow corporator Rihana Bhanu (ward 40) strongly aspiring for Mayor’s seat, Pushpalatha’s way to power was indeed a rosy path.

No sooner the reservation was announced a couple of months ago, the corridors at the corporation was buzzing with Pushpalatha becoming the next mayor. If sources are to be  believed, Pushpalatha’s victory was guaranteed when Rihana Bhanu conceded withdrawing from the race, on Thursday night. The speculation gained momentum, when much before the poll process could begin, Pushpalatha was a happy soul, so as her husband who was accepting greetings of his followers.

Not behind

So as M J Ravikumar whose new role was expected. Much before the process could begin, he too was flooded with wishes, with fellow corporators offering sweets to him. A B Com graduate, he is a staunch follower of MP and State JD(S) President H D Kumaraswamy. Sources said, it was ‘Kumaranna’ as Kumaraswamy is fondly called as, who had shown interest in his election, knowing that there was a senior corporator like K T Chaluvegowda in the waiting. Ravikumar is also the first timer.

Grace reigned

When Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar Hall in the MCC opened for the polls on Friday, it was Rihana Bhanu who led Pushpalatha inside holding her hands, symbol of friendship that had an upper hand over politics. However, when compared to the previous year, where the council witnessed noisy scenes during the election of Sandesh Swamy, this time, there was no such high drama. As everything was decided earlier, it was eventually Congress and JD(S) show against BJP, peacefully.  

At once it didn’t seem to be the elections that was happening, as the mood in the hall was upbeat. Adding to this was MLC Go Madhusudhan who was loudly passing  comments, sending those around him into peels of laughter.

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(Published 29 April 2011, 16:56 IST)

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