Congress' Sampath Raj elected Bengaluru mayor, Padmavathi his deputy

Bengaluru/Karnataka: Congress candidate Sampath Raj and Padmavathi of Janata Dal Secular were on Thursday elected mayor and deputy mayor of the Bengaluru city respectively.

Sampath Raj from Devara Jeevanahalli ward, who enjoyed the backing of power minister DK Shivakumar and Bengaluru in-charge minister KJ George, was the tipped to win the mayoral election easily.

The BJP had boycotted the election for the 51st Mayor of Bengaluru, alleging irregularities in voting. The party said that there were voters on the list who were not residing in Bengaluru - a requirement for being eligible to vote. 

The Congress, however, categorically rejected the charge.

The JD(S) had earlier made it clear that it will support the Congress mayor candidate.

In today's election, corporators, along with legislators and lawmakers from the area covered by civic agency BBMP limits, were allowed to vote. 

Out of total 266 votes, (198 corporators, 68 MLAs and MLCs), a candidate required 136 votes to win.

The term of the mayor is one year.

Congress' G Padmavathi is the outgoing mayor of the Bengaluru city.