Mysore: The JD(S) and BJP combine checkmated the Congress in the election for the city's mayor and deputy mayor on Thursday, keeping the party out of power in the hometown of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
While JD(S) corporator, R. Lingappa was elected mayor, BJP corporator M. Mahadevamma was elected deputy mayor . The JD(S) and BJP had joined hands in the last election for mayor and deputy mayor too, but then both posts had gone to the JD(S).
Although aware of what awaited it, the Congress fielded corporator R. Ananthu for the mayor’s post as a formality. He got 27 votes as against the 40 polled by Mr. Lingappa. Local Congress leaders were allegedly working to split the JD(S) votes and win the election, but were reportedly stopped by Mr. Siddaramaiah.
Of the 65 seats in the of the Mysore City Corporation ( MCC) council , one has been vacant since corporator Manjula Manasa was appointed chairperson of the state women’s commission. Currently, in the House of 64 members, the Congress has 21 councillors, the JD(S) , 20 councillors the BJP, 12 , the SDPI, three , and the BSR Congress and KJP one each.There are also six independents. One member of parliament , five legislators and three MLCs , who have voting power, took the total tally of votes polled to 73. The election was supervised by Regional Commissioner, Rashmi V. Mahesh.
