The race for power that had gripped the State after the ssembly elections echoed in the halls of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) during the mayoral elections on Friday.

After a tussle and much drama, Jayanagar councillor Gangambike Mallikarjun, from the Congress, was elected as Mayor and Kaveripura councillor R. Ramila Umashankar from JD(S) was elected as Deputy Mayor. Ms. Mallikarjun secured 130 votes and Ms. Umashankar bagged 129 votes.

As the elections were being streamed live, citizens were privy to the mayhem that marked the proceedings, which saw members of the BJP and Congress climbing over tables and fighting over independents. The BJP later staged a walkout thus ensuring an unopposed election.

For the first time in 22 years, two women hold the post of mayor and deputy mayor of Bengaluru for the same term. Gangambike Mallikarjun secured 130 votes to be elected as the city’s 52nd Mayor while R. Ramila Umashankar became the 53rd Deputy Mayor with 129 votes.

Before the polls were held, the BJP had claimed stake for the top posts and attempted to swing the votes of five independent councillors, which would have tilted the balance towards its nominees. Sensing this, the Congress had shifted six independent councillors to a private resort on the outskirts of the city on Thursday night. They were escorted by Congress councillors to the BBMP council on Friday where a tussle over them became apparent.

Tug-of-war for independents

Independent Anand Kumar, who had reportedly joined the BJP camp, was escorted into the BBMP by BJP MLAs R. Ashok and Satish Reddy. However, Congress councillors managed to grab Mr. Kumar and drag him to where they were sitting.

As BJP members tried to ‘rescue’ him, Congress members formed a defensive shield around him. Undeterred, a few BJP members tried to get to him by standing on tables in the council hall.

Members of the Congress and BJP almost came to blows. This prompted the Regional Commissioner to repeatedly remind them that the proceedings were being watched live by citizens.

Among the absentees were Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.N. Ananthkumar.

BJP stages a walkout

The BJP had fielded Shobha Anjanappa from Padmanabhanagar ward and Pratibha Dhanraj from Dharmarayaswamy Temple ward for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Opposition Leader Padmanabha Reddy once again sought the removal of four voters — MP Jairam Ramesh, and MLCs V.S. Ugrappa, Ragu Achar and C.R. Manohar — as they had been elected from other districts.

However, when the Regional Commissioner did not disqualify their votes, the disgruntled BJP members, led by MP P.C. Mohan and Union Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, staged a walkout.

This ensured an unopposed election.

Women hold both posts

The last time two women held the posts of mayor and deputy mayor was in 1996. At the time, Padmavathy Gangadhar Gowda was elected as Mayor and Venkatalakshmi as the Deputy Mayor.

Mayor Gangambike Mallikarjun is a two-time councillor from Jayanagar ward (Chikpete Assembly constituency). She is the first member of the Lingayat community to hold the post in over 30 years. The last time a councillor belonging to the Lingayat community was elected mayor was in 1985-86.

Sources in the BBMP council said this was one of the considerations before Gangambike’s name was finalised for the top post.

Deputy mayor R. Ramila Umashankar from the JD(S) is a councillor from Kaveripura ward (Govindarajanagar Assembly constituency).

Disrespect to national anthem

Both the BJP and Congress accused each other of hijacking an independent councillor from their camp. The war of words continued even when the national anthem was being played.

It was only when television channels trained their cameras on the warring members did they realise that the national anthem was being played and stood at attention.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / September 28th, 2018