<p>In a gesture demonstrating their stated commitment, Nataraj and Dayanand planted saplings at the BBMP headquarters soon after their election. The Mayor also declared he was against reintroducing pay-and-park system.<br /><br />The two were elected unopposed in the first meeting of the BBMP council at the Kempe Gowda Council Hall, convened on Friday. <br /><br />The council came into existence after a gap of three-and-a-half years. This is the first time the BJP, with 111 members, is holding the reins of administration in the Palike. <br /><br />Nataraj is a third-time corporator from Sarakki ward and Dayanand, a first-timer from Benniganahalli ward. They were elected in the presence of several BJP leaders, including ministers R Ashok, Katta Subramanya Naidu, Aravind Limbavali, Ramachandra Gowda, Mumtaz Ali Khan and many MLAs. <br /><br />The Mayor’s post was unreserved and the Deputy Mayor’s post was reserved for Scheduled Caste. Nataraj, a Vokkaliga, became the first citizen of the city, thanks to Ashok’s backing. <br /><br />Dayanand, though a greenhorn, enjoys political clout. He is related to Education Minister Aravind Limbavali and MLA S Raghu. At 27, Dayanand is almost half Nataraj’s age, but they will bring a mix of experience and freshness into the Palike’s administration. Both of them will have one-year term each. The council will have a life of five years.<br /><br />Senior BJP leaders finalised the names for Mayor and Deputy Mayor before the two submitted their nomination papers to returning officer G M Dhananjay. The Congress with 65 members and the Janata Dal (Secular) with 15 members in the Council did not field candidates.<br /><br />In his maiden speech to the council, the Mayor said he had a blueprint for the City’s development. Nataraj said he would give preference to newly added areas which lag behind in terms of development.</p>
<p>In a gesture demonstrating their stated commitment, Nataraj and Dayanand planted saplings at the BBMP headquarters soon after their election. The Mayor also declared he was against reintroducing pay-and-park system.<br /><br />The two were elected unopposed in the first meeting of the BBMP council at the Kempe Gowda Council Hall, convened on Friday. <br /><br />The council came into existence after a gap of three-and-a-half years. This is the first time the BJP, with 111 members, is holding the reins of administration in the Palike. <br /><br />Nataraj is a third-time corporator from Sarakki ward and Dayanand, a first-timer from Benniganahalli ward. They were elected in the presence of several BJP leaders, including ministers R Ashok, Katta Subramanya Naidu, Aravind Limbavali, Ramachandra Gowda, Mumtaz Ali Khan and many MLAs. <br /><br />The Mayor’s post was unreserved and the Deputy Mayor’s post was reserved for Scheduled Caste. Nataraj, a Vokkaliga, became the first citizen of the city, thanks to Ashok’s backing. <br /><br />Dayanand, though a greenhorn, enjoys political clout. He is related to Education Minister Aravind Limbavali and MLA S Raghu. At 27, Dayanand is almost half Nataraj’s age, but they will bring a mix of experience and freshness into the Palike’s administration. Both of them will have one-year term each. The council will have a life of five years.<br /><br />Senior BJP leaders finalised the names for Mayor and Deputy Mayor before the two submitted their nomination papers to returning officer G M Dhananjay. The Congress with 65 members and the Janata Dal (Secular) with 15 members in the Council did not field candidates.<br /><br />In his maiden speech to the council, the Mayor said he had a blueprint for the City’s development. Nataraj said he would give preference to newly added areas which lag behind in terms of development.</p>
