The Congress party had the last laugh at the Mayoral elections when its candidate G. Padmavathi emerged victorious, with the support of JD(S) and independent corporators, while M. Anand, of JD(S) was elected deputy mayor. Though BJP is the single largest party in the council, it stood no chance against the combined might of its opponents. Moreover some BJP MPs were stopped from voting in the deputy mayoral poll because they turned up after the election process had begun. With the city’s 50th Mayor now firmly in her saddle, it remains to be seen how Padmavathi and her team work towards easing the city’s woes.
The BJP’s attempts to bag the mayor’s post fizzled out with Ms G. Padmavathi of the Congress sailing to victory with the support of her party, JD(S) and independent corporators in the mayoral elections held on Wednesday. While she becomes the 50th mayor of the city , Mr M. Anand, of the JDS was elected as deputy mayor with the BJP staging a walkout in protest over its MPs not being allowed to vote in the election and its candidate receiving no votes in the process.
A four time corporator, Ms Padmavathi defeated her nearest opponent, D. H. Lakshmi of the BJP by 22 votes and Mr Anand won by 142 votes against Mr Gurumurthy of the BJP, who had no votes polled in his favour due to the walkout by his partymen.
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There was chaos in the council after BJP MPs were stopped from voting in the deputy mayoral poll because they arrived after the election process had begun. Although the MPs, P. C. Mohan and Rajiv Chandrasekhar, claimed they were held up at the all -party meeting convened by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on the Cauvery crisis, Regional Commissioner, M. V. Jayanti refused to relent and announced the results of the Mayoral poll.
When Kacharakanahalli corporator, Padmanabha Reddy demanded to know under what section or rule the latecomers were being deprived of their voting rights, Ms. Jayanti shot back that she was acting in accordance with sections 72 and 73 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act 1976, which said those who arrived after attendance was taken, could not vote in the mayor and deputy mayor elections.
But not convinced by her reply, BJP corporators, MLAs, MLCs and MPs boycotted the deputy mayor poll and staged a walkout. Undeterred, Ms. Jayanti resumed the election process and declared Mr. Anand victorious with 142 votes as there was no one present to vote for Mr Gurumurthy, who too had joined the walkout.
Although the BJP has 100 of the 198 seats in the council, it stood no chance against the combination of the Congress, JD(S) and independents, which helped Ms Padmavathi romp home to victory. The Congress was in confusion over its mayoral candidate until Chief Minister Siddaramaiah returned from Gulbarga and decided on Ms Padmavathi’s candidature hours before the poll was held.
‘Public must cooperate with segregation’
The city’s new mayor, G. Padmavathi intends to give development of the city top priority with the 2018 assembly polls looming in the horizon. She spoke on this and a range of other issues concerning the city in a chat with Deccan Chronicle soon after her election. Excerpts:
What is your agenda for the city’s development over the next one year?
With the 2018 assembly polls looming this is crucial. The Chief Minister has given Rs 7,300 crore for infrastructure work in Bengaluru and we will utilise it effectively.
Will the public be penalised for failing to segregate garbage?
Already seven waste processing units have been set up to dispose of the waste. Two more plants to convert waste into power are in the pipeline. As for penalising the public, a meeting will be held and a decision taken. But the public must cooperate in segregation.
There is widespread opposition to the TenderSure project. Your comment?
TenderSure roads are model roads of the city. Some are underway and a few are under tendering. The project will be reviewed shortly.
Will you implement a pay and park policy?
I personally believe that pay and park helps curb haphazard parking and traffic snarls. The status of the policy will be reviewed. The facilities around Metro stations will be improved.
You are facing three cases in the BMTF since 2001. Now that you are in the hot seat will you cooperate with the investigation?
The cases are at various stages. Talking about them amounts to subjudice. I will cooperate with the investigation and not influence it.
BJP cries foul, threatens legal action on mayoral poll
Soon after the mayoral elections were held on Wednesday, leader of the opposition in the BBMP council, Padmanabha Reddy lashed out at the Congress, BBMP commissioner, Manjunath Prasad and Regional Commissioner, M. V. Jayanti for the delay in holding the polls and threatened to take legal action in the matter.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Reddy said although the term of outgoing mayor, Manjunath Reddy came to an end on September 10, the election was put off to help the Congress garner support for its candidate.
“MLAs, MLCs and MPs representing other towns and cities were included in the Bengaluru voter list to enable them to vote in the mayoral election,” he charged, adding that the opposition would challenge the voter list and the way the Congress was allowed to include some voters and remove others at will.
“The Regional Election Commissioner was biased and did not allow two of BJP’s MPs, who arrived late, to cast their vote. While she could not justify her position, the BBMP commissioner allowed the Congress to include its voters,” Mr. Reddy alleged.
Deploring that Congress leaders ,Allum Veerabhadrappa from Ballari, Bosaraju from Raichur, G. Parameshwar from Tuma kuru, M. D. Lakshminarayan from Turuvekere, Ravi from Kanakapura, Oscar Fernandes from Udupi, Jayaram from Telangana, C. R. Manuhar from Anekal and Appaji Gowda from Hassan were included in the Bengaluru voters list, he said their presence clearly showed the mayoral polls were not held in accordance with the law and must be reviewed.
The BJP also intends to make use of rule 10 of the Karnataka Municipal Rules, which insists on the BBMP council meeting once a month, to demand its dissolution. Former corporator and BJP city unit spokesperson N. R. Ramesh, said the party intended to go to court and demand dissolution of the council for its failure to satisfy the municipal rules.
