Bhasker wins hands down, elected Mayor of Mangaluru

During the elections held at Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) on Thursday, Bhasker K was elected mayor. K Mohammed was elected as the deputy mayor.

Bhasker will be the Mayor for the last term of the ruling Congress party in the MCC. He is the corporator from ward number 36 (Kulshekhar).

Names of Bhasker K for Mayor and K Mohammed for Deputy Mayor were finalised during an internal meeting of the Congress party held earlier in the day.

Bhasker K had filed nominations in three sets. Voting was inevitable as Surendra from BJP, representing ward number 36, had also filed the nomination.

K Mohammed from Congress, representing ward number 13 (Kunjathbail) and Meera Karkera from BJP and corporator from ward number 60 were in the fray for the election of the Deputy Mayor.

Mysuru Regional Commissioner Shivayogi C Kalasad, who was the returning officer, declared nomination papers filed by the candidates to be in order and announced that voting would be held separately for the post of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

The members of the council cast their vote by raising their hands and registering the same in writing.

The elected representatives of Lok Sabha, Legislative Assembly and Council, residing in the MCC limits are eligible to vote for Mayor and Deputy Mayor. Adding the strength of sixty corporators, the total number of votes were 65. Of the 60 corporators, 35 are from Congress, 20 from BJP, two from JD(S) and one each from CPI(M), SDPI and an Independent.

As many as 61 out of 65 voters took part in the voting. MLC and Government Chief Whip in the Legislative Council Ivan D'Souza and Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo cast their votes from the ruling party while Mangaluru North MLA B A Mohiyuddin Bava was absent.

MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, MLC and Opposition Chief Whip in Legislative Council Capt Ganesh Karnik and Corporator Harish M Shetty from BJP, too, were absent for voting.

Unopposed winners

Bhasker won hands-down as he had 37 votes at his disposal. His opponent Surendra from BJP got 19 votes while 5 votes were neutral and were cast by JD(S), CPI(M) and SDPI and Independent candidates.

As the results indicated a simple majority for Bhasker, the need for secret ballot did not arise.

It was the same with the case of Mohammed who was elected as the Deputy Mayor with 37 votes.

Members of the standing committees for the new term were also elected on the occasion. Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar and MCC Commissioner B A Mohammed were present.

'Lived up to expectations'

While congratulating the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor, former Mayors Ganesh Hosabettu, Mahabala Marla, Jacinta Vijaya Alfred, Harinath, MCC Council Whip Shashidhar Hegde, members Nagaveni, Pratibha Kulai, Roopa D Bangera, Poornima, Premananda, Raghuvir, Vijay Kumar Shetty, Dayananda and others hoped that the valuable experience of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will be encashed towards the growth of the city.

They requested the Mayor to complete the pending development works in the city as soon as possible. The Assembly elections are round the corner and it would be difficult to resume the works after the election code of conduct is enforced upon, they maintained. Outgoing Mayor Kavita Sanil said she was satisfied with her work and with the fact that she has lived up to the expectations of people during her tenure as the Mayor. She hoped that some unfulfilled tasks would be carried forward by the new Mayor.