After the recent High Court directions, clarity has emerged on
mayoral elections. The poll process is likely to start in the next few
days. According to sources, the city will have a new Mayor and a Deputy
Mayor by the end of this month. With this, incumbent Mayor D Venkatesh
Murthy’s 16-month tenure will will come to an end.

Sources said
lobbying for the top post in the civic agency has already started and
aspirants are waiting for the State government’s notification that will
formally start the election process.

After the notification is
issued, the Regional Election Commissioner will write to BBMP
Commissioner on the dates. The process is likely to start early next
week. “Tentative dates for Mayoral election is on August 21 or 22. The
city will have a new Mayor in office by the end of this month. Once BBMP
Council gets the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor, Chairpersons for various
Standing Committees will be elected,” sources said.

BJP which has
majority in BBMP is said to be keen on making one of its senior
Councillors as mayor which will help the party to build and regain its
base in the state capital. After losing the recent Assembly elections,
the BJP wants to improve its performance in the forthcoming parliament
election and retain all three seats

A senior BJP leader said the
next mayor will play an important role in improving the party image.
“The BJP was in power in the state and also at the BBMP, but the civic
agency’s financial position or performance did not improve. No new
projects were started, even those announced earlier were not
implemented. Its high time, we do something about it,” he said.