Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 23: The election for the posts of the mayor and deputy mayor for the 4th term of the present council will be held at 11.30 am on February 28. Divisional commissioner of Mysore will be the returning officer for the election.

In all likelihood, Pravin, representing Derebail South ward, will get elected as the new city mayor. The post is reserved for a candidate from scheduled castes. The BJP has two eligible candidates, Pravin and Amitakala, for this post. Both of them are first time corporators, related to each other, and representing two neighbouring wards.  It is being analyzed that the BJP will nominate Pravin, as the present mayor is a lady, and the post of the deputy mayor for the next term has been earmarked for a woman candidate from general category.

For the post of the deputy mayor, the names of Surekha Srinivas from Central Ward and Geeta N Naik from Mannagudda Ward are being circulated.

In the city corporation, BJP has a strength of 35 members including an independent supporting it, while the Congress has 21 corporators. CPM and JDS have one corporator each. There are two neutral independent corporators too. So far, the present council has seen three mayors, Ganesh Hosabettu, Shankar Bhat, and Rajani Dugganna.