Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 24: Elections to the posts of the City Corporation mayor and deputy mayor are set to be held here on Wednesday February 25. Barring last-minute surprises, Shankar Bhat, whip of the ruling BJP in the city council, is sure to get a smooth passage to the post of the first citizen of the city.

Shankar Bhat, who represents Derebail (East) ward in the city, is the candidate of the BJP for the mayor's post. The deputy mayor's post may go to M Rajashree from Bolar ward or Padmanabh from Kodialbail ward.

In the 60-member Corporation council, BJP has strength of 34 and two independents are supporting it. Another independent corporator Mariamma Thomas had voted in favour of the BJP last time. K Harish who represents Iddya ward, had remained neutral during the last election. In addition, the BJP also has additional votes of MLA N Yogish Bhat, Krishna Palemar, MLC Ganesh Karnik and MP D V Sadanand Gowda, who have the right to vote in the election on the basis of their positions.

Shankar Bhat, a three-time corporator, is backed by the experience of having worked as the opposition leader in the council during the Congress rule.