Bengaluru: Jayanagar Congress corporator Ms Gangambike is all set to become the 52nd mayor of Bengaluru staving off a stiff challenge from fellow Congress corporator Ms Sowmya Shivakumar, who had garnered a lot of support from Vokkaliga leaders, BBMP corporators and even seers of her community in her bid to make it to the coveted post.
The opposition BJP, which has only 123 votes against the 129 of the Congress-JD(S) coalition in the BBMP council, is yet to announce its candidates for the polls, scheduled for Friday but in the current situation, its candidates may stand no chance against those of the coalition.
The post of Deputy Mayor will go to the JD(S) which has not formally announced its nominee with Nagapura ward corporator Mr Bhadre Gowda, the frontrunner.
The race for the mayor post reached feverish proportions after the Congress high command, on realising that there were two women contenders for the post, told former minister and Bengaluru strongman Ramalinga Reddy who had backed Gangambike-to ensure that his nominee became mayor, he would have to give up his cabinet berth aspirations.
With no consensus in sight at the meeting called on Wednesday, former CM Siddaramaiah had to intervene and reportedly tried his best to convince Ramalinga Reddy to agree to the candidature of Sowmya Shivakumar but failed.
Sources said that Mr Reddy used his trump card-he proved to the high command that he has the backing of the eight independent corporators whose votes would prove crucial in the election if one was held. This won the day for Ms Gangambike with efforts on to convince Ms Sowmya who was not satisfied with the decision, to fall in line. Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, KPCC President Dinesh Gundurao and Shanthinagar MLA N.A. Haris were present during the deliberations.
