Mangalore:The leaders of Congress party that is reigning in municipal council here are dissatisfied with reservation for mayor by the state administration,while the majority of Congress veteran corporators are not enthusiastic of reservation for OBC for deputy mayor.
The majority of veteran Congressmen are displeased with reservation for women in 3 terms of past 4 terms. The former BJP led state administration granted reservation for women twice in the past 3 terms. Congress has come into power in municipal body and also in state reign by giving several assurances. Despite this,the displeasure has been attributed to not reserving mayor post to one of general or OBC.
The state government has reserved the mayor and deputy mayor post to women from general category. In fact,the Congress led municipal body has no corporator from general category. Meanwhile,corporators Jacinta Alfred,Appy,Nagaveni,Kavita Sanil,Pratibha Kulai,Savita Misquit and others fulfill the criteria of becoming mayor.
There are many women corporators who are eligible to become mayor. The problem lies in fulfilling the long list of assurances that are handed out in party manifesto during the municipal elections. “One needs effective leadership to implement election manifesto,” says the veteran corporators. The corporators Mahabala Marla, Lancelot Pinto, Bhaskar Moily, Harinat, D K Ashok Kumar, Naveen DSouza, Deepak Poojary, Rauf and others are eligible. Its significant that all of them are mayor-aspirants and none are interested in becoming deputy mayor.
There are 4 MLAs belonging to minority community including 1 Christian, among them 2 are already ministers. At this backdrop, a few Congress leaders are of the opinion that if Christians were given priority to become mayor, BJP would get a issue to engaged in propaganda in the forthcoming general elections. Besides, corporator Appy will get a chance under SC reservation in next term, so that its not wise for her to become mayor this term. If these aspects are taken into consideration by the party, Kavita Sanil and Pratibha Kulai may get a chance to become mayor.Pratibha is a postgraduate in social works and has expertise to become mayor that has been brought to the attention of high command by the leaders of Suratkal.
Its perceived that the reservation can be withdrawn if on files writ-petition in High Court (HC). Since Congress is reigning in state, the likelihood of Congress corporators approaching HC is bleak. In spite of several months elapsed since the municipal elections, the mayor elections are in limbo, and it would further delayed if one approaches HC.