<p>BJP corporator from Moodalapalya, N Shantha Kumari - whose house was raided by the Lokayukta a couple of months ago - will be the next Mayor of the City. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Top sources in the BJP told Deccan Herald that the party took the decision to make Shantha Kumari the next Mayor following pressure from Housing Minister V Somanna. The party was forced to overlook the Lokayukta raid on Shantha Kumari’s house, which unearthed assets worth crores of rupees disproportionate to her known sources of income.<br /><br />At a meeting held recently at the chief minister’s residence to choose the new Mayor - where MLAs and MPs were present - Somanna said that for the last many years none from Bangalore West had become the Mayor, which affected development of the area. <br /><br />To this, some MLAs raised objection saying that already a woman is holding the post of Mayor. So this time, a man should be chosen. Some others raised the issue of the Lokayukta raid on Shantha Kumari’s house, which could affect the already sagging image of the party.<br /><br />But Somanna remained defiant and silenced others by saying that gender should not become a basis for appointing the Mayor, when the objective was to give preference to backward areas, sources said. <br /><br />He said Shantha Kumari, a former Deputy Mayor, is an experienced candidate unlike the present Mayor Sharadamma.<br /><br />The party leadership has kept the chances open for alternative candidates in the event of Shantha Kumari’s selection getting mired in a controversy. <br /><br />The other names doing the rounds for the post of Mayor are Shakambari Nagar corporator B Somashekar and Kathriguppe corporator D Venkatesh Murthy.<br /><br />The term of Sharadamma comes to an end on April 23 and the post is reserved for Backward Class ‘2A’ category for the next term.<br /></p>
<p>BJP corporator from Moodalapalya, N Shantha Kumari - whose house was raided by the Lokayukta a couple of months ago - will be the next Mayor of the City. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Top sources in the BJP told Deccan Herald that the party took the decision to make Shantha Kumari the next Mayor following pressure from Housing Minister V Somanna. The party was forced to overlook the Lokayukta raid on Shantha Kumari’s house, which unearthed assets worth crores of rupees disproportionate to her known sources of income.<br /><br />At a meeting held recently at the chief minister’s residence to choose the new Mayor - where MLAs and MPs were present - Somanna said that for the last many years none from Bangalore West had become the Mayor, which affected development of the area. <br /><br />To this, some MLAs raised objection saying that already a woman is holding the post of Mayor. So this time, a man should be chosen. Some others raised the issue of the Lokayukta raid on Shantha Kumari’s house, which could affect the already sagging image of the party.<br /><br />But Somanna remained defiant and silenced others by saying that gender should not become a basis for appointing the Mayor, when the objective was to give preference to backward areas, sources said. <br /><br />He said Shantha Kumari, a former Deputy Mayor, is an experienced candidate unlike the present Mayor Sharadamma.<br /><br />The party leadership has kept the chances open for alternative candidates in the event of Shantha Kumari’s selection getting mired in a controversy. <br /><br />The other names doing the rounds for the post of Mayor are Shakambari Nagar corporator B Somashekar and Kathriguppe corporator D Venkatesh Murthy.<br /><br />The term of Sharadamma comes to an end on April 23 and the post is reserved for Backward Class ‘2A’ category for the next term.<br /></p>
