BENGALURU: With the seven independent corporators making a pact with the Congress-JD(S) coalition at the BBMP, the city will have a Congress Mayor and a deputy Mayor backed by the JD(S) again, with the mayoral polls scheduled for September 28. The votes of the seven independents are crucial as they will decide the fate of the elections. Speaking to DC, former minister Ramalinga Reddy who played a crucial role in forming the Congress-JD(S) coalition at the BBMP with the support of the independents, said that "Our coalition is sure to win the elections as all the seven independent corporators have pledged their support to us."
"BJP's vote numbers will also decrease as Union Ministers Ananth Kumar and Nirmala Sitharaman will not cast their votes" Mr Reddy claimed. A final decision on the Mayor candidate will be taken by Wednesday after the meeting chaired by KPCC working president Mr Dinesh Gundurao and "it is upto the JD(S) to decide and declare their deputy mayor candidate", added Mr Reddy.
While there is a fight between Shanthinagar ward corporator Ms Sowmya Shivakumar and Jayanagar ward corporator Ms Gangambike for the mayor post, sources from the Congress party maintained that Ms Gangambike will emerge victorious as she has the backing of Mr Ramalinga Reddy.
"This apart, Ms Gangambike has a strong backing from the Veerashaiva community and the president of All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha Mr Shamanur Shivashankarappa, who has written a letter to AICC president Mr Rahul Gandhi asking him to support Ms Gangambike," the source added. Even though Sowmya Shivakumar belongs to the dominant Vokkaliga community and enjoys the support of Shanthinagar MLA N.A. Haris - who was denied a cabinet berth - this time, Congress leaders have already decided to install Ms Gangambike as the next mayor of Bengaluru, the Congress source quipped.
