It's uphill for Congress in BBMP

Bengaluru: BJP state unit President B.S. Yeddyurappa has poured cold water on the move by the JD(S) to hitch its wagon to the BJP and gain control over the municipal body, the BBMP, which would remove the Congress hold on the city. BSY may have another motive – he does not want the former deputy Chief Minister R. Ashok to gain prominence.

Either way, is the Congress facing a defeat when the mayoral elections are held at the end of September?      

Congress pins hopes on Dr Parameshwar, Ashok faces dissent within
The alliance for power at the BBMP for next one-year mayoral term is getting murkier. While the JD(S) top leadership is divided over continuing with the Congress, the two national parties too are facing similar problems within.

The Congress, which is facing  he threat of losing power, is pinning its hopes on Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar to carry the negotiations forward, while former DyCM R. Ashok, who is bargaining hard to ensure an alliance with the JD(S), is facing dissent within his party.

Ever since JD(S) joined hands with Congress to capture power in BBMP, JD(S) state president H.D. Kumaraswamy has not been happy. But it had blessings of his father and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. His main grouse was that his detractors – N. Cheluvarayaswamy and Zameer Ahamed Khan – had clinched the deal. The situation deteriorated when his detractors voted against the JD(S) candidate during the Rajya Sabha elections. Also, JD(S) Corporators felt letdown by the Congress mayor.

As the one-year mayoral term is coming to an end, Mr Kumaraswamy has openly started talking against renewing the alliance. An alarmed Congress deputed Bengaluru in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy, who made several round to Mr Gowda's house in Padmanabhanagar.

When the deal was not clinched, PWD Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa approached former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, who suggested the name of Dr Parameshwar, who enjoys a good rapport with Mr Gowda and his children. Mr Krishna held a meeting with Dr Parameshwar and Dr Mahadevappa, and convinced the home minister to negotiate with Mr Kumaraswamy. Dr Parameshwar is likely to meet Mr Kumaraswamy soon.

Meanwhile, Mr Ashok too is negotiating with Mr Kumaraswamy. But bickering within the top leadership of his party is proving to be a hindrance. No one wants Mr Ashok to succeed, party sources said. With mayoral election due by the month-end, chances of an alliance still remain open for both the Congress and BJP.