Preparations at full tilt for mayoral poll

 Hectic lobbying has begun in the ruling Congress and JD(S) for the posts of Bengaluru mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

Elections, if required, will be held on September 28.

Two-time corporator from Deevarajeevanahalli R Samapath Raju and three-time corporator from Subashnagar L Govind Raju have emerged as strong contenders for the post of mayor. The post of mayor is reserved for SC, while the post of deputy mayor is reserved for women (general category) this time.

Sources in the Congress said the party has convened a meeting of its Bengaluru MLAs on Wednesday to finalise the mayoral candidate. Senior leaders of the party, including Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara, will participate in the meeting.

JD(S) members Manjula Narayanaswamy (Laggere), Netra Narayana (Kaval Byrasandra) and Ramila Umashankar (Kaveripura) are in the race for the deputy mayor’s post. JD(S) leaders are yet to finalise the candidate.

The last day for filing nomination papers is 9.30 am on September 28 (Thursday).

Meanwhile, officials have started making preparations for holding the elections. M Jayanthi, regional commissioner and presiding officer for the mayoral polls visited the BBMP head office. Bengaluru urban deputy commissioner and assistant election officer V Shankar too was present with her on Monday. Both inspected preparation works.

Several measures have been taken to ensure a fair and transparent voting process. Name plates of 266 voters in the elections have been placed according to their seats.

“We want to ensure the voting process is transparent. We have made it mandatory for everybody to bring their identity cards. We have barred all supporters and followers who come along council members from entering the Council Hall. We have informed the police to ensure this,” they said.