Bangalore:
Kathriguppe corporator D Venkatesh Murthy of BJP was on Thursday unanimously elected as Mayor of the Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Padmanabha Nagar ward corporator L Srinivas his deputy.
With just a year remaining for the next Assembly elections in the state, election of Mr Murthy to the post is seen as a ploy to appease Kuruba community to which he belongs.
He is also the state senior Vice-President of Kuruba Samaja and State President of Sangolli Rayanna Hitarakshana Samiti.
However, the quest to finalise mayoral candidate proved to be a herculean task for the BJP. While a section favoured Mr Somashekar as Mayor, another wanted Mr Murthy. Both belong to the Kuruba community.
Outgoing Mayor R Sharadamma and deputy mayor S Harish handed over charge to their successors on completion of their one-year term.
Election to Opposition leader of BBMP Council would be held on April 30, BBMP PRO Shivasharanappa S Khandre said.