The Hindu 19.02.2010
Venkatesh Mestri all set to become Mayor
Staff Correspondent
| Elections likely to be held on March 5; reservations notified for top posts in HDMC Council |
He is the only BJP councillor from the Scheduled Castes
Bharati Patil, Vijayalakshmi in race for Deputy Mayor’s post
Venkatesh Mestri
HUBLI: Venkatesh Mestri, Deputy Mayor of Hubli-Dharwad, is all set to become the next Mayor of the twin cities with the State Government notifying reservations for the posts of the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor for the next term.
The State Government has reserved the Mayor’s post for the next term for a candidate belonging to Scheduled Castes, and Mr. Mestri is the sole Scheduled Castes candidate in the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
Mr. Mestri, who represents ward number 44, has been elected to the council for the second time. As he is the only BJP councillor belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Mr. Mestri had adorned the seat of the Deputy Mayor without any competition.
Mayor Viranna Savadi and Mr. Mestri were elected unanimously as the Opposition parties had failed to field any candidates for the two posts during the election.
Differences
However, the nomination of Mr. Viranna Savadi for the Mayor’s post which was then reserved for the General category had led to differences in the ruling BJP resulting in the then floor leader of the council tendering his resignation to the post of councillor.
The BJP leaders, however, convinced him to withdraw his resignation papers.
Competition
This time the competition is for the post of the Deputy Mayor which has been reserved for Backward Class ‘B’ category (woman). Floor leader in the council Bharati Patil, who had unsuccessfully lobbied for the Mayor’s post last time, is now eyeing the Deputy Mayor’s post.
Vijyalakshmi Hosakoti is said to be her competitor for the post.
Being a third-time councillor Bharati Patil has an edge over Ms. Vijayalakshmi who has been elected to the Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation for the first time.
As Mr. Mestri is from Hubli, the fact that Ms. Patil is from Dharwad also seems to be working in her favour.
As the Mayor’s term will come to an end on March 4, the elections are likely to be held on March 5.
Majority
As of now, the BJP, with 36 members, has a clear majority in the 67-member council of Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
The Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) have 22 and nine members each, respectively.
The BJP won 30 seats in the Council elections, while the Janata Dal (United) won six seats.
However, with the then MLC and Janata Dal (United) leader Basavaraj Bommai joining the BJP, his followers too joined the party giving a clear majority enabling it to come to power in the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation for the first time.
