Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Mar 24: In a significant administrative shift, Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan took charge as the Administrator of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Monday, March 24.

The ceremony saw the presence of various key officials, including MCC Commissioner Ravinchandra Nayak, Deputy Commissioner Ravi Kumar, Akshatha, Naresh Shenoy, and Joint Director Shankar.

This new development follows the Karnataka government's revision of its earlier decision regarding the administration of the MCC. Initially, the government had appointed the regional commissioner of the Mysuru region as the administrator in a circular issued on March 11, after the tenure of the elected council ended on February 28.

The decision was made in accordance with Rule 100 of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act, 1976, which provides for the appointment of an administrator in the absence of an elected body.

However, a subsequent circular issued on March 20 by the Karnataka government revised this appointment, selecting Mullai Muhilan, the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, as the new administrator.

The revised order aimed at improving administrative efficiency and expediting the resolution of public complaints, which the government believed would be better achieved under the leadership of the Dakshina Kannada DC.

The revision clarified that the deputy commissioner would officially take charge as administrator with effect from March 1, replacing the earlier decision to appoint the regional commissioner of Mysuru. This shift in responsibility highlights the state's focus on enhancing governance at the local level until a new elected body is formed for the MCC.

The BJP-led administration at the MCC concluded its five-year tenure on February 27, following the final council meeting. In the 2019 MCC elections, the BJP had secured a majority with 44 out of the 60 wards, while Congress won 14 and SDPI bagged 2 seats. The BJP’s term ended with Mayor Manoj Kumar presiding over the last council meeting.

Former corporators have voiced concerns about the government’s reluctance to hold elections for the new council soon, leading to speculation over when the next round of elections will take place.

In the meantime, Mullai Muhilan’s appointment is seen as a temporary measure to ensure the smooth functioning of the city corporation until the political situation stabilises.