Who'll be next mayor? Geetha? Or Geetha? No, Geetha? Shantha?

Though the mayor’s post was reserved for woman (general) candidate for the year 2013-14, the rumour that a few influential BJP leaders allegedly attempted to modify the rules to facilitate electing a male corporator has created confusion among the BJP women corporators. It was said that some of the BJP women corporators had even threatened to resign en masse if the people at the helm of affairs succeed in effecting any change in reservation for the mayor’s post.

According to sources privy to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the BJP has 36 women corporators in the BBMP, out of which four of them are considered as potential candidates for the mayor post. The four women corporators are Geetha Shashikumar from Attur ward, Geetha Srinivas Reddy from Domlur ward, Geetha Vivekananda from Vignananagar ward and Shantha Kumari from Moodalapalya.

Many opine that for Shantha Kumari, though she’s competent, chances are bleak. They said that Shantha Kumari had defected from the Congress to the BJP and is still considered an outsider. She was elected as the deputy mayor during the Congress regime. The Lokayukta raid on her residence on March 17, 2012, is set to remain as a black dot on her political career. The other disadvantage is  that she and the outgoing mayor D Venkatesh Murthy belong to same community.

“I know that my chances are limited. However, I am confident of getting an opportunity to serve the people of Bangalore. My first priority will be to ensure collection of revenue and to mitigate the  garbage woes. I was told that the authorities have effected changes to the reservation for the mayor’s post this time by making it as general category,” said Shantha Kumari.

Among the remaining three women corporators, Geetha Shashikumar is considered as the most experienced corporator. Geetha has had the experience as the chairman of the standing committee on health.

“Many people have told me that I am also one of the probable candidates for the mayor’s post. It will depend on the BJP leadership. I will obey the decision taken by the BJP leadership. If I am elected as the mayor, my priority will be to make Bangalore free of the garbage menace,” said Geetha Shashikumar.

Meanwhile, Geetha Srinivas Reddy representing Domlur ward has expressed confidence of the  BJP leadership selecting her for the mayor post.

“I have been associated with the BJP for the past 10 years. I have also worked as the general secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha. My husband has also been associated with the BJP for quite a long time,” said Geetha. So what are her priorities if selected for the mayor post?

“I will give ample opportunity for women corporators to express their views during BBMP council meetings. Women corporators were allowed to speak in the BBMP council meetings during the tenure of SK Nataraj as mayor. We had no problems during Sharadamma’s regime. We were deprived of expressing our views during D Venkatesh Murthy’s tenure,” said Geetha.

Geetha Vivekananda was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, BBMP corridors were agog with rumours that the state government had attempted to effect changes in February to the government order (GO) issued in 2011 reserving the mayor post for a woman corporator for the year 2013-14. Sources attribute the tussle between deputy chief minister R Ashok and MP HN Ananth Kumar as the main reasons for the confusion on reservation for the mayor post.

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