Bengaluru: Congress and JD(S) dispute over Dy Mayor post

Bengaluru: Elections to the vacant Deputy Mayor’s post and 12 standing committees will be held on Wednesday, but the Congress and JD(S) combo is yet to announce its candidates. There seems to be dispute over who should take up the post of Standing Committee on Taxation and Finance.

While Padarayanapura ward corporator Imran Pasha, Kaval Bairasandra ward corporator Nethra Narayan, Nagenahalli ward corporator Rajashekar are lobbying for Deputy Mayor’s post, JD(S) sources maintained that the post may be handed over to Nagapura ward corporator Bhadre Gowda, at the behest of JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda.

Sources claimed that with Lok Sabha elections around the corner, the party high command has zeroed in on Bhadre Gowda, as they consider him an able candidate to handle the city during such a crucial time.

As for elections to the standing committees, BTM Layout MLA Ramalinga Reddy, who had a closed door meeting with the Deve Gowda, has agreed to continue with the same arrangement as last year.

JD(S) sources however said that Congress party, which enjoyed the Taxation and Finance Committee from first year of the coalition after BBMP elections in 2015, gave away the post to JD(S) after persistent demand.

Marappanapalya ward corporator Mahadev from JD(S) was given the post in 2017-18 and he went on to present the budget.

"Congress party is keen on taking over the taxation committee and is also willing to give the town planning committee to JD(S)," he added.

So if JD(S) gets standing committee then it may go into the hands of former deputy mayor Hemalatha Gopalaiah, who is the corporator of Vrishabhavathinagar.

In case it goes to Congress, then Shanthinagar ward corporator Sowmya Shivakumar, who was in the race for Mayoral post, would be given the post to pacify her.