JDS decides to join hands with Cong for BBMP Mayoral poll

Former Prime Minister and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda on Tuesday said his party had decided to join hands with Congress for the Mayoral elections to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the city civic body. “Our party leaders, including legislators, have decided to join hands with Congress for the Mayoral election,” he said.

Gowda’s son and JDS president HD Kumaraswamy had on Monday made it clear that his party would join hands with Congress for Mayoral polls. Gowda said the final decision on the alliance would be taken in a meeting between KPCC President G Parameshwara, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Kumaraswamy.

“Mallikarjun Kharge, who is a senior Congress leader, had told our <g data-gr-id="23">partymen</g> to hold talks on the issue at state level since it is a matter concerning corporation poll and there is no need for intervention of High Command,” he said.

Asked if his party had bargained for getting posts, Gowda said, “There is no question of it because the party will get its pieces of cake based on its numerical strength.” “Except the post of the Deputy Mayor, my corporators will get two chairmanship posts and memberships of various BBMP committees, simply based on numerical strength,” he said.

On allegations of “unethically” forging an alliance to keep BJP out of power from BBMP, Gowda cited instances of Congress-BJP, Congress-NCP and NCP-Shiva Sena alliances for mayoral elections in Maharashtra.