Bengaluru mayor post: 2 Dalit corporators in race

BENGALURU: With Mayor G. Padmavathi's term ending in September, the race has begun for the prestigious post in the city. Despite its ups and downs, the coalition of the Congress, JD(S) and independents has survived and this year too, a Congress candidate is likely to become the Mayor.

Top Congress circles are already discussing the various probables. As per the roster system, this year's mayor post is reserved for a Dalit (SC) candidate and the fight is between Mr Sampath Raj, who is the corporator from Devara Jeevahalli, and Mr L. Govindaraju, who is the Subash Nagar corporator.

Mr Raj, who said that he is in the fray for the post, listed reasons for his likely elevation. “Being elected as a corporator from one of the most backward areas in Bengaluru, I have worked for the uplift of the urban poor since 2010. I have also raised my voice on issues ranging from drinking water to roads."

Mr Raj, an engineering graduate from M.S. Ramaiah College, argued that he is a grassroots worker, who has toiled for the victory of Congress leaders like C.K. Jaffer Sharief and Roshan Baig. He said that he also worked closely with the winning candidate during the Gundlupet Assembly by-election.

On the other hand, Mr Govindaraju is a three-time corporator fro  Subash Nagar, which falls under the constituency of KPCC president Mr Dinesh Gundurao. Congress sources maintained that top leaders, including Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar, are likely to put their weight behind Mr Raj, as Mr Govindaraju is originally from the JD(S) who joined the Congress in 2005.

Further, it is rumoured that Mr George is in favour of Mr Raj as he feels there have been no Mayors from Bengaluru East. Mr Govindaraju was not available for comments.

Padmavathi's term may be extended
Assembly elections in Karnataka are due next year. But with drought looming large over the state again, the Congress may go for elections before the completion of its five-year term in office, top sources in the party said.

“The leadership is thinking of extending the tenure of incumbent Mayor G. Padmavathi till the elections are over, as this will avoid the problem of negotiating with its partner JD(S)) and independent candidates,” they said. 

Ms Padmavathi told Deccan Chronicle, “It is left to senior members of the party and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to either extend my tenure or to choose another candidate. Last time, in the election year of 2013, former Mayor Venkatesh Murthy's term was extended by a few months keeping elections in mind. The same thing might happen this year too.”