Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 7: Even as Lok Sabha election is round the corner, the city corporation here has completed its full term of five years. For the city mayor, today will be the last day in power. Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner is likely to be appointed as administrative officer till corporators are elected afresh and a new council is formed.

In normal course, election is declared during the last phase of the council's current term.   However, it is gathered that the state election commission could not declare the election as the government has not yet finalized its ward-wise reservation list. As Lok Sabha election is to be held shortly, the corporation election will be delayed further.

Mayor Bhaskar Moily

The government had released draft reservation of wards on June 26 last year with provision to file objections within a week. Over 70 objections were received to the list and   reservations of 30 wards were changed later. However, it was observed that all the Congress corporators who had been deprived of chance to participate in election because of draft reservation list, had got chance to fight from their own wards again. Except a couple of sitting corporators, all the BJP corporators were deprived of chance to fight the election again.

Some people pointed out violation of rules in fixing reservation, and that there are wards that are reserved for a particular category three years in a row. The high court, which accepted writ petitions, had annulled the reservation list published by the government and ordered for redrawing of the new list before January 28. But the government, instead of redrawing the list, went on appeal and therefore, election can be held in August or September this year because of Lok Sabha election, analysts feel.

City corporation commissioner, Mohammed Nazeer, confirmed that in all likelihood, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada could be appointed as administrative officer of the city corporation here with effect from March 8.