BBMP polls: First list of JD(S) candidates out, legislators back wives

BENGALURU: After two days of discussions, leaders of JD(S) managed to release the first list with names of 120 candidates for BBMP polls with state unit chief H.D. Kumaraswamy administering an oath to the nominees that they would provide clean administration, if voted to power.

In a sign that the party would pull out all the stops to win the elections, party patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda announced that he would not step out of Bengaluru till the day of polling, and campaign in almost all the wards.

Interestingly, two of the three JD(S) legislators from Benagaluru city have propped their wives as party candidates. While Mahalakshmi layout MLA Mr Gopalaiah has backed his wife Mrs Hemalatha’s candidature for Vrishabhavatinagar ward, Sarvajnanagar MLA Akhanda Srinivasmurthy has sought to field his wife Mrs Shailaja from Muneshwarnagar ward.

After releasing the list here on Thursday, state JD (S) president H.D. Kumaraswamy administered an oath to candidates that they would be people friendly and provide clean administration, if voted to power.  The oath was essential as leaders of both BJP and Congress were pushing BBMP to the brink of bankruptcy, he added. He charged that leaders of BJP and Congress were involved in encroachment of lakes around Bengaluru city.