’Late Kate’ BJP gives Mayorship to Congress on a Platter

’Late Kate’ BJP gives Mayorship to Congress on a Platter

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 7, 2012: There is many a slip between the cup and the lip as the ruling BJP seems to have painfully found out during the Mayoral elections of the city corporation held today. After the BJP won the majority in the MCC for the first time four years back, it was resting assured that it would have a free run for its five year term in the civic body. After foisting its own mayor for the last four years, the party was all set to fulfill its final year before reelection with their own lady candidate, Roopa D. Bangera.

 

 

However, as luck – or sheer negligence if you might call it - would have it, the shocker came during the elections being held this morning with the Returning Officer M. V. Jayanthi, the Mysore District Reginional Commissioner rejecting the nomination of the BJP candidate on the grounds that the caste certificate was filed late. To the party’s chagrin, the Congress candidate Gulzar Banu of Surathkal was instead declared ‘Mayor’ by default.

 

 

In the meanwhile, the BJP candidate for Deputy Mayor , Amitha Kala has won against the Congress candidate Ms. Appi without any confusion.

 

 

Returning Officer M. V. Jayanthi along with Deputy Commissioner, N.S. Channappa Gowda at the Election Venue.

 

 

 

 

With its foot firmly in its mouth, the city unit of BJP has thus become the laughing stock. This being the way the prime candidates treat serious matters concerning their own future, one should wonder whether they can be trusted to lead the city on more weighty matters.

 

Ms. Gulzar, the representative of the Krishnapura – Katipalla Ward, has been the corporator of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) twice besides being part of the MCC’s Accounts Standing Committee. Wife of Mr. Shamshuddin Shaikh, she is the mother of ten children.

Expressing his appreciation of Ms. Gulzar, Shashidhar Hegde, the former mayor and Congress corporator, said that Ms. Gulzar has contributed greatly to the Congress party and to society. A devoted social worker, she involves herself fully in whatever event the Congress holds, said Mr. Hegde.

Independent corporator Mariamma Thomas informed reporters that the BJP is an insult to itself. Stating that the BJP ought to have been prepared, she said that they take things too lightly, which indicates that they are really not serious about being in power. She also remarked that such a blunder must have taken place for the first time in the history of the country.

Independent corporator Harish said that none of the BJP workers guided Ms. Bangera with regard to her caste certificate. Stating that this is an expected win, he said that the BJP did not want to support its high command’s policies.

Stating that the biggest challenge now is to choose the opposition leader, he said that both BJP and the Congress are leaders, the actual opposition comprising two independent corporators, one CPI (M) corporator, and one JD (S) corporator. Smiling broadly, he said that they will demand that one of them be chosen as the opposition leader.