Kannadiga woman is Belgaum Mayor

Vandana Bilgi, candidate from the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES)-led opposition group, withdrew her nomination papers making way for Balekundri getting elected unopposed.
Reserved

The Mayor's post had been reserved for Scheduled Castes Woman category. Manda, councillor from Ward No 29 had filed four sets of nomination papers and Bilgi, councillor from Ward No 45 had filed two sets of nomination papers. Nomination papers of both the candidates were in order.

Regional Commissioner and Election Officer C M Shirol conducted the election process and declared Manda elected unopposed after other candidate in the fray withdrew her nomination papers and opted out of the election race.

In the 58-member house, one candidate Bilgi had been elected from a ward reserved for Scheduled Caste Women, while Manda had been elected from ward reserved for General Woman. Manda made it to the category by virtue of her caste.