First time corporator becomes mayor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation

Hubballi: First-time corporator and MBA graduate Jyothi Patil, representing Ward No 19, became the new mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), where the BJP is in power.

In the elections held on Monday for the fourth term of the five-year tenure of the present elected body of the HDMC, 42-year-old Jyothi Patil from Dharwad was the choice of the BJP. Suvarna Kallakuntala (Ward No 59) of the Congress, and Vaheedakhanam Allabhaksh Kittur (Ward 76) of the AIMIM were her opponents.

Among 90 eligible voters including 82 corporators, 87 were present, including Union minister Pralhad Joshi, MLAs Arvind Bellad, Mahesh Tenginakai and MLC S V Sankanur of BJP, and MLA Prasad Abbayya of Congress.

After her victory, Jyothi stated that she has no political background in her family, and she would focus on improving cleanliness in the twin cities, and speeding up the implementation of 24X7 water supply scheme project.

"Under the guidance of seniors, I will make efforts to take a delegation to the government to get the pending grants released, and to increase the term or get more power to the mayor," she said.

Efforts to increase the HDMC's revenue from its own sources would be expedited, and due focus would be given to infrastructure development, she added.

BSc holder and 42-year-old Santosh Chawan (Ward No 41), who rose from ABVP, became the deputy mayor with 47 votes, defeating Shambhugouda Salimani (Ward No 14) of the Congress.

Regional Commissioner S B Shettennavar conducted the election procedures, while HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali, and others were present.