Sharadamma P Ramanjaneya, a resident of Abbigere, Chikkabanavara and the BJP corporator from Shettyhalli ward, was unanimously elected new city mayor on Friday. The post had been reserved for a scheduled caste woman.
Sharadamma is the 45th mayor of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and its fifth woman mayor. As expected, the BJP chose Nagapura corporator S Harish for the deputy mayor’s post while JP Park corporator BR Nanjundappa was picked as the ruling party leader in the BBMP Council.
However, the question doing the rounds in the civic society and the BBMP council itself is will Sharadamma rise to meet the challenges posed by one of the fastest growing cities of the country.
The question is not linked to her educational qualification (SSLC failed) alone. It is more focused on her capability to handle the administration and governance of a civic body with 198 corporators.
Most women corporators, who were elected to the BBMP last year, have been influenced by their husbands while taking decisions. Sharadamma, a former taluk panchayat member, appears to be no different. Wife of Ramanajaneya, a party worker, she has been nominated to the mayor’s post after a series of debates and meetings in BJP.
Opposition corporators feel that like former mayor SK Nataraj, she too may remain a puppet in the hands of the state government.
However, BJP termed her rise to mayor’s position as a boon for city women as also for the backward class she represents.
Even though Sharadamma and Harish were announced as the mayor and deputy, they could not occupy the coveted seats as the election process remained inconclusive with the regional commissioner SN Jayaram, who conducted the election proceedings, putting off the election process to Saturday.
Nominations for the BBMP standing committee on taxation and finance were received and reviewed. Of the 12 members, an independent corporator from Shakambarinagar withdrew his nomination. The election was put off after an adjournment for lunch break. The council was adjourned by Jayaram citing lack of quorum.
