Mayor Sharadamma R, whose term comes to an end in April, broke down and threatened to resign on Thursday if the Mayor's fund was drastically slashed from the present Rs150 crore, according to sources.
The mayor's threat reportedly came at the closed door meeting which Home and city in-charge minister, R. Ashok held with senior corporators to discuss various issues including the Kempegowda awards.
When it was suggested that the Mayor's fund should be slashed, Ms Sharadamma is reported to have pointed out that none of the mayors and deputy mayors were deprived of the money in the past and complained she was being often upstaged by some ‘super mayors’ like party leaders, a few ministers and the Deputy Mayor.
The Mayor's outburst was also prompted by the fact that although she had promised to release money from the fund to some corporators, Mr Ashok reportedly advised her to release money from the fund only to those referred by him and not use her discretionary powers to do so. When her pleas went unheard, she reportedly broke down in the meeting hall.
When contacted later, Ms Sharadamma , however, claimed there was no question of her resigning and she had been assured of receiving the full amount set aside for the Mayor’s fund .
Strangely, while BBMP commissioner M. K. Shankarlinge Gowda backed her claim, saying there was no change in the quantum of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor's funds which remained at Rs150 crore and Rs25 crore respectively, Deputy Mayor S. Harish, claimed the Mayor's fund had been slashed to Rs120 crore from Rs150 crore and the Deputy Mayor’s from Rs25 crore to Rs10 crore.