Venkatesh Murthy new Mayor, Srinivas deputy

After three rounds of meeting since Tuesday night, BJP chose Kathriguppe corporator

It is official now. Kathriguppe corporator D Venkatesh Murthy will be the new Mayor of the City and Padmanabha Nagar corporator L Srinivas his deputy.

After three rounds of meeting since Tuesday night, the ruling BJP finally chose Murthy and Srinivas for the prime posts. After remaining indecisive on Tuesday, the party leaders agreed to make Murthy the next Mayor, on Wednesday evening.

There were two other strong contenders - Shakambari Nagar corporator B Somashekar and Banashankari corporator Basavaraj.

But, as expected Murthy pipped the others to the post. It is learnt that Murthy has the backing of State BJP chief K S Eshwarappa, who was present during the meeting on Wednesday.

With only a year left for the Assembly elections, Murthy’s selection for the post is seen as an attempt to woo the Kuruba community, since he is the State senior vice-president of Kuruba Samaja and State president of the Sangolli Rayanna Hitarakshana Samiti.

Focus on lakes

Murthy told Deccan Herald that improvement of lakes would be his priority.

“Many lakes, which were the identity of the City, are dying due to the effluents let into them. We need to block the flow of sewage into the lakes,” said Murthy.

He emphasised on the optimum use of information technology to check flaws in the system and corruption in the Palike.

However, he pointed out that the BBMP commissioner alone had the powers to take concrete measures to check corruption and prevent leakage of resources. Murthy said garbage clearance, besides tackling water scarcity and dog menace, were his other priorities.

High Court plea

Hearing a writ petition on the roster system for choosing the Mayor, the High Court on Wednesday ruled that the election could go on, but the result would be subject to the outcome of the petition.

Corporators Lokesh Nayak of Neelasandra and Indiramma of Byatarayanapura had filed a petition, challenging the process of appointment to the Mayor’s post, stating that the roster system was not being followed.

They contended that it had been 15 years since a person from the Scheduled Tribes was elected to the post and sought a stay on the election.

BCom dropout’s rise to fame

Venkatesh Murthy’s active political life began in 1992 when he quit the KSRTC to join the BJP. Murthy, a BCom dropout, is a three-time corporator.

He was elected to the Palike Council in 1996, 2001 and 2009. Murthy has two children, a daughter and a son, pursuing pilot training in the US.