Mayoral choice narrows down to three women candidates

Mangalore, February 27: The tussle for the mayoral candidature within the Bharatiya Janata Party appears to have narrowed down to three contenders, as the Government has reserved the post of Mayor for the fifth year for a woman from Backward Class (A) category.

Sources within the ruling party of Mangalore City Corporation have confirmed that the city was all set to have another women Mayor.

The names of Corporators Surekha Srinivas (Central Market ward) from Ganiga caste, Roopa D. Bangera (Kadri North) from Kumbara caste, and Shantha R. (Panjimogaru) from Shettigar caste are doing the rounds as the front runners for the Mayoral post.

Although councillors Rajani Dugganna (Hosabettu) and Revathi K. (Surathkal West) qualify to contest, the party was unlikely to field them as Ms. Dugganna had already served as Mayor and Revathi as the chairperson of the Standing Committee for Taxation, Finance and Appeals.

The last three Mayors were from wards under Mangalore North Assembly constituency. They were Ganesh Hosabettu (Kulai ward), M. Shankar Bhat (Derebail East), and Rajani Dugganna (Hosabettu). Present Mayor Praveen represented Derebail South ward under Mangalore South Assembly Constituency.

The one-year term of present Mayor Praveen would end this month end. Next one year would be crucial for the BJP as the council of MCC would have to go for the polls in 2013 as the present five-year term of the council would come to an end in March, 2013, sources said.