DJ Halli corporator Samapth Raj is the new mayor of Bengaluru

Two-time Congress councillor from Devara Jeevanahalli R Sampath Raj has been elected as the new Mayor of Bengaluru. He is the 51st Mayor of the City. Devara Jeevanahalli ward is in Pulakeshinagar Assembly constituency.

After a hectic lobbying in the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Wednesday night, Sampathraj emerged the favourite among the Congress leaders against L Govindaraju from Subhashnagar ward in Gandhinagar Assembly constituency. In fact, KPCC working president and minister Dinesh Gundurao had strongly lobbied for Govindaraju for the mayor's post. But Sampath Rah had the blessings of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, KPCC president G Parameshwar, Energy minister DK Shivakumar and others. Sampath Raj's election was almost decided on Wednesday night. This year, the mayor's post has been reserved for an SC candidate while a woman from general category will the deputy mayor. Padmavathi Narasimhamurthy, JDS coprporator of Rajagopalanagar ward was elected the deputy mayor.

Also Read: Five challenges that Bengalureans expect the new mayor to tackle, right now

Earlier in the day, the BJP swooped into the well of the council and protested affecting the mayoral polls. BJP leaders were protesting against the failure of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's failure in handling rain havoc that was unleashed in the city since two days. However, the Congress corporators were heard making a mockery of the protesting BJP leaders.

It may be recalled here that in 2015 election, the BJP had 100 seats, congress 76 and JD(S) had won 14 seats. Though the BJP had simple majority, the Congress and JD(S) decided to join hands as MLAs, MLCs and MPs too have the voting power for the mayoral election. As a result the Congress and JD(S) have come teogether form the council here. The JD(S) was hell-bent on for the mayor's post. However, later it was agreed to give it to Congress.

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