The Kalaburagi Bench of the High Court of Karnataka that heard two petitions related to the elections to the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike on Friday rejected the list of 68 electors, which included five BJP MLCs from outside the district, and asked the authorities concerned to conduct the elections within one month based on the previous electoral rolls which had 63 names. It also reversed the reservation to the post of the Mayor from Scheduled Castes to general category woman.
Of the 55 seats in the Kalaburagi Mahanagara Palike, the Congress had won 27 seats and emerged as the single-largest party followed by the BJP with 23 seats and the Janata Dal (Secular) with four seats. The Congress’ strength on the floor was 29 with one MLA and one Rajya Sabha member. The BJP also matched the Congress’ tally with three MLCs, two MLAs, and a Lok Sabha member. It was expected that the Congress and the JD(S) collation would get the mayoral posts.
