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.