BJP cries hoarse, says tie-up won't last long

After losing the mayoral elections to the Congress-JD(S) combine, the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) on Friday said that it will shoulder the responsibility of developing Bengaluru into a better City.

At about 2.40 pm, even as election for the post of deputy mayor was still in progress, most of the senior BJP leaders including Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar and D V Sadananada Gowda and former minister S Suresh Kumar walked out of the BBMP Council hall after recording their votes.

Speaking to reporters, Bengaluru North MP and Union Law Minister Sadananda Gowda said that the coming together of Congress and JD(S) was against the people’s mandate as a majority wanted BJP to come to power.

“Our candidate might not be the mayor. However, considering that most of the corporators are from our party, we will take the responsibility of developing Bengaluru into a better City,” he added. “Hope court understands the grounds of our petition,” he said refering to a petition filed by party corporators in the High Court. The senior BJP leaders are hopeful that the High Court decision would be in their favour.

Bangalore South MP and Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Ananth Kumar said that the Congress had behaved in a very undemocratic manner. “They have not given credence to people’s wishes. This is a setback for democracy,” he added. The BJP is, however, is in no intention to give up. “A line of campaigns have been planned, where awareness would be created about the games the Congress is playing. We will let the people know what is happening and stand by their mandate,” he added.

Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, MLA, Malleswaram, opined that the Congress-JD(S) alliance would not last long. “Chairmanship for seven committees has been given to the independent candidates. For how long can this game last ?” he questioned.