Ruling Cong-JDS alliance in BBMP heads for a split?

JDS rebels say Kumaraswamy wants to settle the score with rebels by disturbing the BBMP administration. Congress formed the BBMP Council with support from JDS and Independents The ruling corporators in BBMP say any disturbance to the coalition will cause further embarrassment to the JDS

Soon after the news about JDS rebel leaders meeting Congress chief in Delhi reached JDS President HD Kumaraswamy, there is a possibility of the ruling alliance splitting.

BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan who held a massive convention at the Town Hall to send poor Muslims on a pilgrimage said, he heard the news about JDS withdrawing support to Congress in the BBMP and questioned the timing.

"Kumaraswamy has told that all the powers are concentrated in the hands of Bengaluru Development In-charge minister KJ George and there is no value for JDS corporators who are given standing committee chairperson post. This statement is not wise as JDS leaders were given the Deputy Mayor post and also many of them have been given a good position. Kumaraswamy must have made these statements as we are joining the Congress," he said.

At present there are 198 council members, BJP has 100 seats while Congress got 76, JDS 14 and there are eight Independents. The Congress along with help from MLCs and Rajya Sabha MPs who are also BBMP members formed the Council by offering the Deputy Mayor position to JDS and gave the chairperson post to three JDS and eight Independents.

But the JDS corporation said there is no link between the JDS rebel MLAs going to the Congress and the BBMP administration getting strained, but it is purely because there is no cooperation from Congress as they were not allowing any of their files to get cleared.

"The tussle between rebel MLAs and our party high command has been there for quite some time Kumaraswamy expressed displeasure over the BBMP administration purely because they are not giving much importance to alliance partners. We will shortly call a press conference to announce our decision," said Narayanswamy, JDS leader and husband of Standing Committee Chairperson Manjula Narayanswamy.