MANGALORE: Hectic parleying is underway in the BJP circles in Mangalore in the wake of the elections to the post of the third term mayor and deputy mayor of the city slated to be held on February 26. The BJP has already held two rounds of talks in this regard.
While the post of mayor is reserved for a general category lady candidate, the post of deputy mayor has been reserved for the backward classes (A) candidate.
Of the 60 seats in MCC, the BJP has a strength of 35 members of whom 12 are women. All the 12 lady corporators of the BJP have a chance to become the mayor this time.
As of now, reports say there is a tough fight between the sitting deputy mayor Rajani Dugganna and the BJP corporator Shanta R for the top post. Rajani Dugganna, has been councillor of the erstwhile Suratkal municipality twice and thrice as corporator of Mangalore City Corporation. She also served as the Standing Committee President prior to becoming the Deputy Mayor. Though a senior member, the general belief is that she is incapable of handling the responsibilities that go along with the top post of mayor, due to lack of educational qualification.
Apart from Rajani Dugganna,there is Revathi, the sitting President of the Standing Committee on Finance who is also an aspirant. Even in case of Revathi, it is felt that she may find it difficult to handle the top post despite having the credit of being a three time corporator. Even Prema Muralidhar, for whom this is the second stint as a corporator, is eyeing the top post. The main grouse against Prema however is that she does not raise her voice at the corporation meetings. Meanwhile, it may not be a surprise if Shantha R, the BJP corporator from Panjimogaru ward enters the fray as a rebel candidate.
As far as the post of Deputy Mayor is concerned, there is every likelihood of Madhukiran, a first time corporator getting elected for the post, as he has the advantage of being a relative of the district minister J Krishna Palemar. Even the names of Naveen Devadiga and Santosh are being heard.
Disillusionment all over : The BJP which took over the mantle of leadership of the Mangalore city corporation for the very first time, no doubt has disillusioned the people of Mangalore, through its highly inefficient style of functioning. The administration further invited the wrath of the people by implementing the controversial Self-Assessment Property Tax Scheme. Even the concretization of the various roads of Mangalore are progressing at a snail pace.
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