Will BJP have its first Mayor in Mysore City Corporation?

With no candidates for Dy Mayor, BJP wants mayorship

After forming the first ever State government down south in Karnataka, the BJP is looking for another first in Mysore City Corporation (MCC).

 The saffron party is making all efforts to decorate the Mayor’s post in the mayoral polls, scheduled to be held on September 5. A special council has been convened on the day for the polls with the reservation fixed for Mayor (general woman) and deputy mayor (SC).

Sources told Deccan Herald, Janata Dal (Secular) and BJP, that have decided to forge an alliance on the lines of Zilla Panchayat, held a second round of meeting recently. JD(S) MLAs Sa Ra Mahesh (K R Nagar), G T Devegowda (Chamundeshwari) and MLC Sandesh Nagaraj and its city unit president Koppal Rajanna attended the meeting. MLCs Siddaraju and C H Vijayashankar, city unit general secretary Yashaswi Somashekar and former ZP president K Shivaram represented the saffron party.

Though it still remains to be decided, the BJP has staked its claim for mayor’s post at least for the first term of the five year council and chairmanship of any of the four standing committees. It is reasoned that the party has suitable candidates for mayor, while it has none for deputy mayor. JD(S) has got candidates for both the coveted seats, especially with mayor considered as the first citizen of the city.

If the partner (JD(S)) turns down the demand, the BJP is also ready with an alternative. The JD(S) will decorate both the posts, while BJP will be feted with the chairmanship of all the standing committees.

In a latest development, that has come to the fore, BJP MLC C H Vijayashankar is not eligible to vote in the election. As is the norm, MP, MLAs and MLCs who reside in MCC limits, form the electorate along with 65 corporators. Vijayashankar resides at Hinkal, on the outskirts of the city. This makes JD(S) further stronger, with 20 corporators, one MLA and three MLCs against 12 corporators and two MLCs of BJP.

Interestingly, the Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) that has a lone corporator, too has extended its support for the alliance. An Independent has already joined JD(S), taking its total to 21 and another Independent has promised his support.

Though the Congress has 20 corporators, three MLAs and one MP, it is still cagey about its plans. Though Dharmasena won the recent MLC by-election, he is not eligible to vote for being a resident of T Narsipura taluk.