BBMP mayoral poll: BJP looks to its nominated MLCs to win mayoral poll

Bengaluru: Disturbed over the fact that it could lose out in the mayoral race, the BJP is desperately looking for alternative ways to retain power in BBMP following a cold response from JD(S) and the six independent corporators.

Since elected representatives of both Houses of the state legislature, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have voting rights in the Mayor election, BJP is focusing on ‘increasing’ its numbers from the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha.

According to BJP leader and Council member Ashwathnarayana, if the nominated members of BJP in the Council have voting rights, the party can give a tough fight to the combined alliance of Congress, JD(S) and Independents during the Mayoral elections.

According to rules, nominated members can only participate in the council meeting but do not have voting rights. However BJP has decided to seek clarity on this issue from the Bengaluru Urban deputy commissioner’s office and State Election Commission.

BJP leaders argued that if BJP nominated members Lehar Singh and Tara Anuradha have voting rights, the tally of the party will increase to 127 andit will be short of only one vote to get power in BBMP. The BJP can reach this magic figure only with the support of Rajay Sabha members, Venkaiah Naidu, Rajiv Chandrashekar and R. Ramakrsihna. Mr. Rajiv Chandrashekar has already pledged his support to BJP.

Already, the party has suffered a jolt with Rajya Sabha member R. Ramakrishna not having voting rights in Bengaluru. .Mr. Lehar Singh has claimed that he has the voting right since he is been receiving invitations for the BBMP’s council meetings.

MLCs who are city voters can vote

Members of the State Legislative Council who are voters of Bengaluru city are eligible to cast their votes in the BBMP mayoral polls to be held next week. Sources in BBMP told Deccan Chronicle that Section 7 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act has clearly specified on voting rights of MLCs in the elections to mayor and deputy mayor.

Accordingly, the MLCs whose names figures in the voter's list of Bengaluru are eligible to vote. "The MLCs' are free to spend the fund allotted to them by the government as part of local legislator development fund at any place but that will not come in the way of exercising their franchise in mayoral polls", sources added.

This issue had gained importance in the wake of a statement by BJP that members of Legislative Council do not having voting rights in mayoral polls. The party had sought a clarification from the government.

An officer said the dates for elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of BBMP would be decided only after receipt of voter's list of eligible legislators from the commissioner, BBMP. The regional commissioner would go through the list and send intimation to members about the dates.

Of late, there has been a serious debate whether MLAs, MLCs, Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members should have voting rights in mayoral polls. Some argued that councillors alone should have voting rights.

Under these circumstances, there is a need to revisit the KMC Act to do away with voting rights for others except councillors, they contended.