Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 18: The election to the post of the mayor of the City Corporation is scheduled to be held on February 25. The term of the current mayor Ganesh Hosabettu will end on the 21st of this month.

It is almost certain that Corporation whip Shankar Bhat will succeed Hosabettu as the city mayor, barring last minute surprises. James D'Souza will probably be chosen as the next deputy mayor.

Reportedly, women candidates have not evinced interest in the post of the deputy mayor this time, expecting that the mayor's post may be reserved for women next year or the year after that. So, if they accept the post of the deputy mayor now, they will be deprived of a chance to have a shot at the top post.

BJP leaders are expected to sit together in a couple of days and announce Bhat's name. They will have a task on hand, of pacifying Navinchandra, who was deprived of the mayoral post last year. He is interested this year again, to bag the post.

As Bhat draws full support from the district-in-charge minister Palemar, in all likelihood, his ascension to the post will be easy.