Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Feb 12: Within a next few days, reservation criterion for the post of the mayor of the local city corporation is expected to be announced. In all probability, this post, during the coming term, might be bagged by the scheduled castes category. The term of the present mayor, Rajani Dugganna, will end on February 25.

Since the present city council was formed by the BJP, the post of the mayor has not been given to a corporator from scheduled castes category. There has been immense lobbying within the BJP for setting aside the post for a candidate from scheduled caste. It is learnt that the party wants to choose a person who is able to bring laurels for the party and help it to rise to power again in the election scheduled to be held in 2013. As such, it is felt within the party circles, that it would be better to give in to the demand of the scheduled castes this year itself.

BJP has two aspirants from this category. Corporators, Amitakala and Pravin, will be eying the post, if the reservation criterion is announced as expected. Both of them are first time corporators, and have been nursing the hopes of becoming the city mayor. As of now, there has not been any lobbying for the post of the deputy mayor, as no one is too enthusiastic to grab that post.