The Hindu : Mayoral election on November 30

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Mayoral election on November 30

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Nov. 19. The countdown for the Mayoral elections has begun. The Mayor, K. Chandrashekar, who completes his term on November 24, announced on Tuesday that the elections would be held on November 30.

There is not much speculation over the choice of candidates and last-minute changes in the reservation category for the coveted post, unlike in the past.

As the Congress has a majority in the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council, the party leaders do not have to worry about getting the support of other parties.

They are sure that there will not be dissidence this time. That is probably why the usual pre-election meetings to decide the candidate and work out strategies are not being held.

Since the mayoral post is reserved for General (Men) category this year, there are over 12 aspiring contenders. While seniority in the party and the BMP Council matters, caste affiliations will be the decider.

Aspirants include the Congress Leader in the House, C.M. Nagaraj, the chairmen of standing committees, B.M. Narsimhamurthy, P.R. Ramesh, and N.L. Narendra Babu, B.S. Puttaraju Amarjyothinagar corporator, B.T. Srinivas Murthy who represents Azadnagar, M. Laxminarayana, Gali Anjaneyaswamy Devasthana corporator, and a few others.

Though each of them is lobbying hard, party leaders favour candidates who cannot contest under any other category. So there is likely to be a contest among Mr. Nagaraj, Mr. Srinivas Murthy, and Mr. Laxminarayana, all Vokkaligas. Mr. Ramesh, a Tigala, may not be in contention for that matter, sources say.

Mr. Laxminarayana won his last term on a Janata Dal ticket, but later defected to the Congress. Sources say he and Mr. Puttaraju may not be taken seriously as they belong to the group of V. Somanna, Binnypet MLA. Mr. Somanna disassociated himself from the Congress during the Kanakapura byelection.

Mr. Babu and Mr. Narsimhamurthy may be asked to wait as they are newcomers to the Congress. This leaves only Mr. Nagaraj and Mr. Srinivas Murthy in contention.

There are not many takers for the post of Deputy Mayor, which is reserved for Backward Class (B) Women. As senior corporators are vying for the Mayor's post, a newcomer is likely to become Deputy Mayor, sources say.

Next week, the Congress MLAs from the City, including the Bangalore City DCC President, Ramalinga Reddy, will discuss the issue with Jaffer Sharief, Bangalore North MP, and the AICC Secretary, B.K. Hari Prasad.

However, the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, will have the final say.

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