The IT hub, known worldwide as India’s Silicon Valley has one reason to smile — its new mayor is a woman, its fifth female mayor.

But while that’s cause to celebrate, Sharadamma Ramanjaneya is not quite the face of the new Bengaluru. Unlike the women who have gone before, Sharadamma has not finished school and has no previous experience at all in public life. In short, a political novice.

A first time corporator who will have the challenging task of running the affairs of one of the fastest growing cities of the country — the deputy mayor S. Harish is also a first time corporator — both the mayor and her better educated deputy, (an engineer by training) are from the ruling BJP, which has an overwhelming majority of 111 in a house of 198 corporators.

BJP officials said they had little choice as the candidate had to be a woman and a Dalit. Others said they could have picked a more suitable candidate.