Congress to pick BBMP mayor candidate today

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday night did not finalise the Congress candidate for the mayor’s post, who has to be formally elected during the BBMP council meeting on Wednesday. He told KPCC working president Dinesh Gundurao and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar that they should hold a meeting on Wednesday and finalise the candidate.

The Congress is said to favour Prakashnagar corporator Padmavathi, reportedly Mr Shivakumar’s candidate, for the post, but the JD(S), its coalition partner, is opposed to the choice.  JD(S) is said to be batting for Shanitnagar corporator Sowmya Shivakumar, sources said.

JD(S), which has 14 corporators, has been given the deputy mayor’s post along with four chairmen posts for  BBMP standing committees.  Congress sources said Ms Padmavathi is a senior corporator and has the ability to control the council.

“Given the acrimonious scenes during meetings, there is a need for a senior corporator to handle the situation. We are not sure whether Sowmya Shivakumar can handle the council as she is a novice,” sources said.  

Make mayor’s term five years: Reddy
The outgoing mayor B.N. Manjunath Reddy on Tuesday urged the government to enhance the term of the mayor to five year from two-and-a-half years to serve people better and implement developmental works.

Releasing a souvenir on his achievements ahead of Mayoral polls Mr Reddy said that the area of Bengaluru has increased to over 800 sq. kms from 226 sq. kms. Following the outcry from the public and activists he personally felt that the term should be increased for better administration.

There is a need for amendment to the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act to enhance the term of the Mayor and he cannot comment on it, he said.
However, he said that was satisfied with his one year stint as mayor and said he has given his best to serve the public.

Mr Reddy said financial discipline was very important for running the civic body and alleged that it was not there when BJP was ruling the city. The Congress–JD(S) coalition has made efforts to instill the financial discipline and made a target of achieving '2,500 crore from property tax. Besides, it is also aiming to enhance revenue from optical fibre cables (OFC), playgrounds and trade licence.

He said that the garbage crisis was a major problem haunting the BBMP when he took over and with the state government’s support, seven waste processing units have been set up to solve the crisis. Besides, two waste to energy plants will be set up and necessary approvals are being sought, he added.

Acknowledging the services of pourakarmikas, Mr Reddy said that following the high court order, the state government has given approval for the appointment of 4,000 pourakarmikas and efforts are already on to appoint 2,000, he added. 

Outgoing Taxation and Finance Committee chairman Shiavaraju M said that fiscal prudence has helped the BBMP to reclaim two buildings that were pledged to raise loans.