Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Aug 25: A notification has been brought out on Wednesday for electing a new mayor and a deputy mayor for MCC. Mayor will be from the general category while deputy mayor post is reserved for women from general category.
Elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor which was slated to be held on March 2, 2022, was postponed due to confusion created due to the Supreme Court order. So Premananda Shetty and Sumangala Rao continued in their positions as mayor and deputy mayor respectively. Now the reservation has been declared.
Out of the total 60 seats in MCC, BJP has 44, Congress 14 and SDPI two seats. As BJP has a clear majority, there are many aspirants for both the positions. However, sources say keeping in mind series of forthcoming elections, it has been decided by the eminent leaders of the party to select candidates for both posts unanimously.
Though Sudhir Shetty Kannur, who was a strong contender for the post of mayor in the last term itself, is eyeing the mayor's post, it is said that the decision of top brasses of the party will be final. Discussion in this regard will be held by Nalin Kumar Kateel, Sudarshan Moodbidri, Vedavyas Kamatha and Dr Bharath Shetty.
As both Mangaluru North and South legislative assembly constituencies fall under the limits of MCC, priority should be given to both in addition to caste calculations.
MCC commissioner Akshay Sridhar said, “Reservation for mayor and deputy mayor posts for the 23rd term of the corporation was published. However, the elections did not take place. Now the reservation has been announced for the 24th term but date is not yet finalised. Information in this regard is expected to be reached in a day or two from the regional commissioner of Mysuru.”