Mayor election: Congress selects candidate

Mayor election: Congress selects candidate

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 12, 2015: The single largest party in the Mangaluru City Corporation council, congress has been busy with meeting schedules to finalise the candidates for mayor, deputy mayor and members of standing committees. The City Corporation council will meet on March 12, today,  to elect its new mayor. The post of mayor has been reserved for corporators from general women category and deputy mayor’s post is for general category.

Congress, which is in power with 35 seats in the 60 wards corporation, has been holding back to back meetings to choose a candidate as there are more women candidates eyeing for the top post. Corporators Jecintha D’Souza (ward 39), Prathibha Kulai (ward 8), S Appi (ward 59) and Kavitha Sanil (ward 19) are the strong contenders for the post.

Regional Commissioner, Mysuru region, will conduct the election for the post of mayor, deputy mayor and for four standing committees of the council at 11.30am on Thursday. With the completion of election, the term of present mayor Mahabala Marla and deputy mayor Kavitha will end. Election will be held to elect members of standing committees - Tax, finance and appeals; Public health, education and social justice; Town planning and development and Accounts after the election of mayor and deputy mayor.

In the corporation election held in 2014, the Congress had bagged 35 seats, the BJP bagged 20, the JD(S) won two, the CPI(M) and the Social Democratic Party of India have secured one seat each and one seat was bagged by an independent.    District in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai, District Congress Committee in-charge president Kodijal Ibrahim, MLAs and other senior leaders held a meeting in this regard in the last two days. Congress leaders have sought suggestions from all corporators for a  unanimous choice.

Late News :   Reliable sources state that four-time corporator Jacintha Alfred is most likely to be the next mayor of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC).    The election is scheduled to be held on Thursday March 12 at 11.30 am. Sources have revealed that the ruling Congress has already chosen Jacintha as the next mayor.