Bengaluru: Edging out BJP's Manjunath Raju by three votes, Congressman Manjunath Narayana Reddy has become Bengaluru's new Mayor. The ruling Congress teamed up with foe JD (S) despite its bad experience of 2006, when it was ousted by the party in Karnataka. The coalition was determined to capture mayor's post and challenge the Bharatiya Janta Party's superiority in Bengaluru politics.
Of the total 259 votes polled, Reddy won 131 and Raju 128 votes. The victory came as a big booster for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as there were not many state leaders who favoured his plan to ally with JD(S). He, however, managed to convince the party high command for the alliance and passed with flying colours.
The chief minister was keen to keep Bengaluru in the Congress kitty as both the rapport between the government and the civic body will be good easing the path for taking up development work. Reacting to the Congress-JD(S) taking over the reins of the BBMP, Siddaramaiah said, “Bengaluru has a brand name. We will ensure to enrich it in the next five years.”
