Mysuru: The coalition partners in the government have turned rivals in the Mysuru Mayoral elections due on Saturday with both the Congress and JD(S) keenly eyeing the Mayor's post.
While district in-charge minister, Sa Ra Mahesh of the JD(S) argues that his party has a right to the post as it gave it up in the BBMP in Bengaluru, Congress MLA, Tanveer Sait maintains that the Congress has a greater claim to it as it gave up the Chief Minister's post to its coalition partner.
Of the 65 corporators in the Mysuru City Corporation, 22 belong to the BJP, 19 to the Congress, 18 to the JD (S), one to the BSP and five are independents. Counting the MLAs, MLCs and MPs, the Congress has a tally of 21, the BJP, 25 and JD (S), 22. To win the Mayoral election a party needs 37 members.
In the past the JD (S) had joined hands with the BJP in the MCC and it appears it could do so again. Asked if the JD (S) and BJP alliance could be revived, Mr Mahesh said a decision would be taken soon.
Meanwhile, Congress leader, Krishna Bhyregowda, who arrived in Mysuru on Friday to participate as observer in the Mayoral elections, claimed the party had the support of four independents and it was in constant touch with JD(S) corporators. However, all 18 JD(S) corporators left for the Eagleton resort near Ramanagar on Friday to keep them safe from poaching.
Meanwhile, maintaining that he would not interfere in the Mayoral elections in Mysuru, former CM Siddaramaiah, who hails from the district, however, said the government should consider the city corporators demand to give the Congress a role in its affairs. "Last week when I met the corporators, they pointed out that the district minister is from the JD (S) and with the Congress being a major partner in the coalition government, they feel they too need a voice in Mysuru. That is reasonable. I have conveyed their demand to KPCC president, Dinesh Gundurao and asked him to speak to Mr Devegowda and H.D. Kumarswamy."
