Silvester Dsouza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (GA)

Kundapur, Aug 25: With the state government finally announcing the reservation for the posts of presidents and vice-presidents of the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), the elected representatives are busy lobbying to pocket the plum posts of presidents and vice-presidents all over the state. Hectic parleys have begun within the political parties as it’s curtains on behind-the-doors discussions and ripe time for political given-n-take among all the major political outfits.

Though the elections for Urban Local Bodies was held in March 2013, reservation for the posts of presidents and vice-presidents was not announced owing to various reasons. This had vexed everyone, let alone the opposition. State Minister for Municipal Administration Qamar ul Islam had given at least couple of assurances that reservations would be announced soon. But he could not move an inch even after new government had completed 100 days in power. But a recent survey by a private TV channel wherein Qamar ul Islam was branded as one of the worst performing ministers of the state government might have had its positive effect. The reservations for the ULBs is finally announced.

But the reservation has proved to be a bitter pill both for Congress and BJP in the local TMC here. The TMC has a total of 23 members. However, the Town Municipal Council’s president’s post has unexpectedly gone in the kitty of CPI (M) since the post has been reserved to Scheduled Caste (General) and the only eligible candidate for this is Kalavati of CPI (M) which has only two members in the TMC. Hence she has unanimously been elected as the new president of the TMC.

With the president’s post going CPI (M)’s way, hectic activities are going on for bagging the vice-president’s post which has been reserved for Backward Classes (A) category. Congress has 9 aspirants for VP’s post while CPI (M)’s second councillor who too is a woman comes under this category. BJP is not far behind as 8 members of the BJP too are eligible to be the vice-president. The political pendulum could swing anyway and hence all the aspirants are waiting with baited breath keeping their high-flying ambitions in check.

Ravikala Ganesh is the leading aspirant from Congress. She had been in the forefront in demanding a favourable reservation for the president’s post earlier. But with the changed scenario, she may not let go the available opportunity to be the VP. However she has a tough fight from her own party members Vasanthi Sarang and Pushpa Seth. Sources also said that Chandrashekhar Kharvi and Prabhakar Kodi too have been lobbying hard to adorn the vice-president’s chair.

It isn’t a different story in BJP either. Quite a few senior members have already expressed their desire and have confirmed that they are not averse for political hurrah. But Rajesh Kavery who is also the president of BJP unit of the local constituency, has gone a step ahead and has even announced in public that she is one of the strong contenders for the vice-president’s post. On the other hand Uday Mendon, Vijay S Poojary too are leaving no stone unturned towards fulfilling their political ambition.

So there are strong indications that even if the Congress and BJP zero-in on their final nominee for the coveted post, an election is imminent since neither of the parties is ready to provide a cake walk to the opposition in bagging the vice-president’s post.