The Congress high command is said to have given its nod to chief minister Siddaramaiah to join hands with JD(S) to form the BBMP council. All that’s awaited now is a go ahead from JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda.
JD(S) has convened a legislators’ meeting in Bengaluru on September 2 to discuss the issue. However, sources said this is only a formality as party legislators are in favour of supporting Congress. The sole reason is that Siddaramaiah, who knows most of them from his JD(S) days, has had a good rapport with them in the past two years regarding sanctioning of work in their constituencies.
“JD(S) legislators feel teaming up with Congress rather than BJP is a better proposition as this will help the party in getting funds sanctioned for constituencies ahead of the 2018 assembly polls,” sources said.
Meanwhile, the Congress high command is said to have given its approval for the JD(S) alliance with Siddaramaiah convincing the higher-ups that his government plans to develop Bengaluru, which will not be possible with the BJP at the helm of affairs. “We are waiting for the mayoral election notification to be issued as an early announcement will encourage poaching.
BJP has not lost hope with Congress dashing its dream to rule the BBMP for the third consecutive term. “You will know who will become the mayor in a day or two,” former deputy CM R Ashoka said.
