Bengaluru: In a dramatic turn of events, BSP rebels led by local MLA N Mahesh joined hands with the BJP to snatch the Kollegal city municipal council president and vice president posts.

Kollegal CMC has 33 members including an MP and an MLA.

BSP rebel Gangamma and BJP candidate Kavita won president and vice president posts respectively by securing 17 votes each. Congress candidates secured 14 votes while BSP candidate secured two each votes.

Local MLA, N Mahesh, who was expelled from BSP two years ago joined hands with seven BJP members. The BJP, which has seven votes was joined by one independent candidate too.

The Congress, which has 9 members in the council was able to secure 14 votes by garnering the support of four independent MLAs. However it was not enough to win the president and vice president posts.

With this N Mahesh, who was once considered as the champion of dalit causes in the state officially joined hands with BJP. He was expelled from BJP for not supporting JDS-Congress alliance government in 2019.