Anita Behera was elected Mayor of Cuttack as BJD on Thursday formed
its council in the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) after the victory
in February 6 polls.

Picked from among four hopefuls by party
supremo Naveen Patnaik, Anita was elected unopposed. The Corporator from
Ward 21 has become the second woman Mayor of Cuttack after Nibedita
Pradhan who held the post from 2003 to 2008.

The debutante
Corporator and first time politician, however, did not appear to be
overwhelmed by her elevation to the top post. Immediately after
announcement of her election, Anita got down to set her priorities.

“Improving
sanitation, repair and renovation of roads as well as combating the
mosquito menace would be top on agenda. We will strive to provide an
efficient, responsive and transparent civic administration,” she said.

Drainage
and sanitation are the most pressing problems in the city. Emphasis
would be on improving sanitation by not only ensuring effective work
plans but also making officials and agencies accountable for their
proper and timely execution. Roads will be repaired and renovated at the
earliest, she said while outlining her immediate agenda.

Anita,
who has Plus-II qualification, made it to the top post on the basis of
the Mayor being reserved for SC Woman this year. She was chosen among
four eligible Corporators including Sulochana Sethi from Ward 39,
Meenakshi Behera from Ward 45 and Mamata Behera from Ward 51. She had
won from Ward 21 beating her nearest BJP rival by 572 votes.

She
is the lone eligible candidate from Cuttack-Barabati Assembly
constituency and her selection is seen as a reward for the performance
of BJD in the segment. The BJD won 21 of the 31 Wards under
Cuttack-Barabati constituency represented by MLA Debasish Samantray.

The election was conducted by Director of Municipal Administration Sanjib Mishra.

The
BJD retained CMC winning 36 of the 59 Wards while Congress and BJP won
nine and four Wards respectively. As many as 10 Independents have been
elected, most of whom are BJD rebels.