The Hindu

Mangalore, Feb 7: The State Government has reserved the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Mangalore City Corporation council for the second term to general category, according to Bharatiya Janata Party sources in the civic body.

Sources said that the Government was expected issue a Gazette notification to this effect on Monday. The term of incumbent Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu and Deputy Mayor Shakeela Kawa will expire on February 20.

The Government had reserved the post of first Mayor of the present council, which is the fifth one, to Backward Class A category councillors. The post of Deputy Mayor had been reserved for Backward Class B woman.

The Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada J. Krishna Palemar told The Hindu that the notification on the reservation for these posts would be issued in two days.

Sources said that if both the posts were to be reserved for general category candidates, all the councillors would be eligible to contest. Since the BJP enjoyed a majority in the 60-member council, the Congress was unlikely to field its candidates.