Mangalore City Corporation Mayoral contest heats up

Mangalore, February 20: Cousins and first time corporators will vie for the post of mayor when elections to the same will be held on February 28. With the state government on Thursday finally announcing the roster of reservations to the post of mayor and deputy mayors of all city corporations in the state, political activity among the ruling BJP in Mangalore City Corporation has gone up a notch with the two aspirants pressing for their case.

The post of mayor has been reserved for SC candidate, and that of deputy mayor for woman (general) candidate. The two SC candidates in the ruling saffron camp are Praveen representing 24-Derebail (south ward) and his cousin Amitha Kala representing the adjacent 25-Derebail (west ward). While Praveen is upbeat about his prospects of succeeding Rajani Dugganna as the mayor, Amitha says she has left the choice to the party seniors.

For Amitha, the very move by the state government to reserve the post for a SC candidate is a victory of sorts. Asserting that she is not lobbying for the post, Amitha, an arts graduate from University College said she would be happy either way. "I will go with whatever the party leadership decides," she told STOI, adding what is more important is for the next mayor to focus on issues pertaining to people, especially people from SC/ST communities.

Praveen, a little more brash admitted that he has been pressing for his case with the party leadership. "I stand a very good chance of making it to the top post," he said, adding that the party corporators seemed inclined in his favour. However, a senior BJP corporator said no final decision has yet been taken on the possible candidate and the party leadership would meet closer to the date of the elections and finalise the names of candidates for the two posts.