Jacintha Alfred elected mayor, Purushotham deputy

Jacintha Vijaya Alfred (Congress), representing Ward No 39 (Falnir) was elected as 17th Mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation while Purushotham Chitrapur (Congress), representing Ward No 10 (Baikampady) as the deputy mayor, at the mayoral election held here on Thursday.

While Jacintha polled 38 votes, Roopa D Bangera (BJP), who contested against Jacintha managed to poll only 20 votes while five corporators remained neutral.

Similarly, for deputy mayor’s post, Purushotham polled 37 votes while K Rajesh (BJP), who contested against Purushotham managed to secure only 19 votes and five corporators remained neutral (as MLA Mohiuddin Bava and Corporator Poornima went out during the poll, they lost an opportunity to exercise their franchise for deputy mayor’s poll).

The 60-member Mangaluru City Corporation has 35 Congress corporators and 20 BJP corporators. The Janata Dal (Secular) has two seats, the Communist Part of India (Marxists) has one seat, the Social Democratic Party of India has one seat and there is one Independent member.

Besides 35 Congress corporators, MLAs J R Lobo and Mohiuddin Bava and MLC Ivan D’Souza too exercised their franchise while MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik did not turn up.

Though elections for the mayor’s post and deputy mayor’s post were held on Thursday, the decision to field four-time corporator Jacintha Alfred and first time elected corporator Purushotham Chitrapur was taken by the Congress party leaders on Wednesday night itself and by early morning, many knew about the new mayor as well as deputy mayor.

The other contenders for the mayor’s post included Kavitha Sanil, Appi and Prathiba Kulai. Similarly, the other contender for deputy mayor was Ashok Shetty. As per the roaster, the post of the mayor and deputy mayor was reserved for general category (woman) and general category, respectively.

Briefing reporters, Mayor Jacintha Vijaya Alfred, who has been corporator for the last 16 years, said she would give top priority to drinking water supply, footpaths, underground drainage and simplification of rules for construction of houses.

“I will continue all the development works taken up by former mayor Mahabala Marla,” she said.

Later, addressing media persons, newly elected Deputy Mayor Purushotham Chitrapur said that he will try to take steps to fulfil all the promises made in the party manifesto.