Bangalore: Soon after the Karnataka High Court gave its verdict on the reservation for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, lobbying for the top post has begun in all earnest in the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Ruling Party in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Many senior councillors from the BJP have thrown their hats into the ring for the Mayor’s post. The frontrunners include four-time councillor from Basavanagudi B.S. Sathyanarayana, Pattabhiramanagar councillor C.K. Ramamurthy, Dr. Rajkumar ward councillor Gangabyraiah, J.P. Park councillor B.R. Nanjundappa and Moodalapalya councillor Shantha Kumari.
As expected, many candidates are using their caste card to earn favour from the party. Party sources claimed that the Vokkaligas have been demanding that a candidate from their community be chosen. Mr. Gangabyraiah and Mr. Nanjundappa belong to the Vokkaliga community.
However, there is also demand from the Brahmin community to be chosen for the post. Sources claim that the community has been overlooked for the top post for the past 28 years. That apart, the community is said to have a strong presence in Bangalore South parliamentary constituency. By choosing a candidate from the Brahmin community, the re-election of Bangalore South MP H.N. Ananth Kumar is certain, sources claimed.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed that lobbying had begun for the 12 standing committees as well.
