Mysuru:  With the Mayoral poll just five days away, all the three major political parties — BJP, Congress and JD(S) — are working out their own strategies. The Mayor post is reserved for General Category – Woman.

The Mayoral poll on Aug.25 has been necessitated after Rukmini Madegowda of JD(S) was disqualified after the Karnataka High Court in May last annulled her election from MCC Ward 36.

With no party  having a majority  of its own in the MCC polls held in 2018, the Congress and JD(S) entered into an alliance to rule the civic body.

Though the BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 2018  polls and has the highest electoral strength of 25 votes, the party has so far  been unable to rule the MCC. But the BJP, which is in power in the State, is said to be making  a serious attempt to bag the Mayor post this time, by chalking out plans. However, the BJP’s plans will be set into motion after holding consultation with Co-operation Minister S.T. Somashekar, in-Charge of COVID-19 Management and Flood Relief in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar districts, who is expected to arrive here today.

Meanwhile, the Congress too is working out plans to retain its alliance with its coalition partner- JD(S). The Congress had come close to the top post in the Mayoral poll that was earlier scheduled to take place on June 11. The party is said to have held first round of parleys with K.R.Nagar JD(S) MLA S.R.Mahesh, who in turn is said to have assured that he would come back after talking with the party’s  top leaders.

On its part, the JD(S) is said to have adopted a wait and watch policy till the last minute, just as it did during the last Mayoral poll held on Feb.24, when the party’s Rukmini Madegowda was elected the Mayor and Anwar Baig of the Congress, the Deputy Mayor.