Priority to traffic, garbage issue, says newly elected Mayor

Bengaluru: After getting elected Bengaluru Mayor M Gautam Kumar said that traffic and garbage issues in the city will be given foremost importance.

Addessing presspersons here Gautam said, “Many issues in the city needs to be addressed. I would consider all the senior leaders while taking any step.”

He further reponding to the protest stagged by pro-Kannada organisations, said, “I am a Kannadiga and son of a farmer. I am from Siraguppa taluk in Ballari district.”

“I would talk to all the pro-Kannada activists personally and request them to cooperate with me towards development of Bengaluru,” he added.

Pro-Kannada organisation Kannada Chalavali (Vatal Paksha) staged a protest in the city alleging that an ‘outsider’ has been made the city mayor.

Kumar, who is originally from Rajasthan, hails from Jain community.

BJP corporator M Gautam Kumar was elected as Bengaluru Mayor on Tuesday defeating Congress nominee R S Sathyanarayana.

Kumar, who represents Jogupalya ward, secured 129 votes as against Sathyanarayana (Dattatreya Temple ward) who got 112 in a 249-vote electoral college, which comprises city corporators, Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha members, MLAs and the MLCs from Bengaluru.