Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 6: The state government has given its nod to hold elections for the posts of city mayor and deputy mayor of the city corporation council here based on reservation criteria fixed for 21st term. With this, the name of Divakar Pandeshwar has emerged as the most likely candidate to occupy mayoral seat.

The post of the mayor has been set aside for councillor from backward class (category A) while that of the deputy mayor has been earmarked for woman from general category. Divakar represents Cantonment ward. At the same time, names of Sharat and Jayanand Anchan have also emerged as likely candidates.

The corporation commissioner, on Tuesday, wrote to the regional commissioner at Mysuru seeking to fix date for the abov elections. Therefore, in all likelihood, these elections may be held within the next two weeks.

Elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor were not held when elections were held in other bodies last year, because of the cases questioning reservation criteria fixed for the corporation filed in the high court, the elections could not be held. Then there was confusion about the criterion fixed for the 21st term. After the government clarified a couple of days ago that the reservation criterion announced last year would hold good, decks have now been cleared for mayoral election.