Bengaluru: Congress plays down JD(S) stand on Mayor

Bengaluru: Amid speculations that the Congress-JD(S) pact in BBMP may no longer continue, senior party member and Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said there was no official communication from JD(S) demanding the mayor’s post.

In an interaction with Deccan Chronicle on Thursday, Mr Reddy maintained that Congress came to know of JD(S) demand only through media and none of the JD(S) party representatives had approached Congress leaders seeking the post.

“For long there have been speculations about who will be the next mayor. Although the decision is not fully made, we are aware that JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda has addressed the media regarding their demands. Since he or the party representatives have not spoken to us directly about this, we will wait for them to approach us,” he said.  

However, Mr Reddy asserted that no matter who became the next mayor, nothing could hamper the Congress-JD(S) pact since both the parties were secular.

“Moreover, if JD(S) joins hands with the BJP, it will be politically damaging and the party will not want to take such a risk. We are cent per cent confident that Congress will continue to be in power and there’s nothing to worry,” he maintained. 

BJP’s protests cancelled due to Section 144
Alleging that the Congress had tampered with the voters list for mayoral polls, the BJP had planned a protest on Thursday at the BBMP head office. However, with the city police imposing Sec 144, which does not allow gathering of large number of people at public places, the BJP corporators had to call off the protests.

Commenting that the Congress was deferring the mayoral poll on purpose, BBMP Opposition leader Padmanabha Reddy demanded why the elections were postponed to September 28. “Mayor’s term ended on September 10 and elections were scheduled to be held on September 19. Although there was no reason, the elections have been put off till September 28,” he said.

The BJP leader further alleged that in the last polls, there were only 260 voters, but the number had gone up to 269 this time. He said, “Congress has deliberately added the names of 6 MLCs in the voter's list. These MLCs have already voted in the Zilla Panchayat elections held at different places in the state. Their votes cannot be considered.”

Parameshwar extends olive branch to JD(S)
Home Minister Dr G Parameshwar has extended olive branch at JD (S) State President H.D. Kumaraswamy over BBMP Mayor election, saying that he would be talking to Mr Kumaraswamy. He told reporters here on Thursday, “I want to talk to Mr Kumaraswamy over the issue. He is little busy with his son's movie and I will be talking to him soon.”

“There may be some little differences among coalition partners during the last one year, when Manjunath Reddy was the Mayor. However, when we sit for talks, we will definitely rectify those mistakes for coming days. Congress is interested in going with JD(S) to make a formidable secular force,”' Dr Parameshwar said.
When asked Mr Kumaraswamy condition that the Mayor post should be given to his party.