The stage is set for the mayoral elections of Hubballi Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) with the Belagavi Regional Commissioner fixing June 30 as the date for conducting the elections for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor.
The mayor’s post has been fixed for General Woman, and that of deputy mayor for backward classes ‘B’ category.
Although the reservation was announced much earlier, one of the councillors from the ruling party (BJP), Shivu Menasinakai, had approached the High Court of Karnataka questioning the reservation, which had accepted a writ petition and issued a stay order.
Later, Mr. Menasinakai backtracked and withdrew his petition, resulting in the stay order getting vacated.
Once the Regional Commissioner of Belagavi division and also the Election Officer for the mayoral election S.B. Shettennavar issued the notification for holding the elections on June 30, lobbying for the mayoral posts began in the BJP, which is in power in the corporation.
The election is scheduled to take place at 1 p.m. on June 30. The candidates are required to file their nomination papers between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. The scrutiny will be held subsequently and there will be time for the candidates to withdraw their nomination papers before the polling is held.
Strength of parties in HDMC
In the 82-member municipal corporation, BJP has 39 members followed by Congress (33), Independents (6), AIMIM (3) and JDS (1). Among the independents, three have expressed support for the BJP.
As the mayor’s post is reserved for General Woman, there is keen contest in the ruling party, which has 15 woman councillors. Former mayor Radhabai Safare (ward 60) is the seniormost among the woman councillors, but is unlikely to be considered for the post as she has held the post earlier. Prominent among the aspirants are Puja Shejwadkar (ward 64), Meenakshi Vantamuri (ward 57), Roopa Shetty (ward 47), and Sheela Katkar (ward 73).
Santosh Chavan (ward 41) and Shankar Shelake (ward 8) are prominent among the aspirants for the deputy mayor’s post reserved for Other Backward Classes ‘B’.
There is a demand for giving the mayor’s post to a councillor from Hubballi Dharwad East Assembly constituency, which is being deliberated upon in party circles.
The names are expected to be finalised after Union Minister Pralhad Joshi arrives to Hubballi later this week.