Mysore, April 29: With the mayor’s post reserved for BC woman, will the Congress and JD(S) alliance give the city the first-ever Muslim woman mayor? The question is best kept alive till the Saturday polls.
In the bargain for the mayor’s post, the Congress has given the deputy mayor’s post to JD(S). Now, the Congress’ choice is narrowed down to two– Pusphalatha, wife of former mayor T B Chikkanna, and Rehana Banu.
Pushpalatha belonging to Kuruba community has the support of party leaders like Siddaramaiah and Vishwanath while Rehana Banu is depending solely on the support of city legislator and former minister Tanveer Sait. Kurubas say they have not got the mayor’s post for long while supporters of Rehana are hopeful of a Muslim woman becoming the city’s first citizen.
In the JD(S) camp, with the high court barring seven corporators, who are facing a case under the anti-defection law, from voting in the mayoral elections, the fight for the deputy mayor’s post has been narrowed down to two corporators– city JD(S) president Cheluvegowda and corporator Chinni Ravi.
Though Cheluvegowda is a three-time corporator his chances to grab the post are dim with many JD(S) corporators opposing his candidature on the ground that he had once lost the mayoral polls and now, cannot climb down to contest the deputy mayor’s post. However, young JD(S) corporators are in favour of Chinni Ravi, who is popular among people.
–Agencies