HDMC set to elect new mayor today as BJP eyes another term

Hubballi: The stage is set for the election of a new mayor and deputy mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) on Saturday. This will be the final mayoral election of the current five-year term, with the tenure of the elected body ending next year.In the civic polls held four years ago, the BJP won 39 of the 82 seats in the corporation, while Congress secured 33. AIMIM won three seats, JD(S) one, and six independents were elected. Subsequently, some independents extended support to the BJP and Congress, while JD(S) aligned with the BJP following political developments in the state.The mayor’s post is reserved for an SC woman and the deputy mayor’s post for a woman from the general category.

Elected representatives, including MLAs, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members falling within the HDMC limits, are also eligible to vote in the mayoral election.With the mayor’s post reserved for an SC woman, the names of Durgamma Bijawad and Chandrika Mestri are doing the rounds within the BJP, with one of them expected to be elected mayor. For the deputy mayor’s post, reserved for a woman in the general category, a larger pool of aspirants is lobbying for the position.

Chandrakala Kotabagi, Ratnabai Nazare, Sunita Malavadakar, Roopa Shetty and Yellava Aravalad are among the frontrunners, making the BJP’s choice more challenging.Congress, despite lacking the numbers to win, has decided to field Kavita Kabberi for mayor and Dilshad Begum Nadaf for deputy mayor.The BJP has consistently won mayoral elections since assuming power in HDMC. With votes from elected representatives included, the party’s strength rises to 47, including those of two MLAs, four MLCs, one MP and one Rajya Sabha member.

Congress’s tally rises to 35 with the inclusion of MLA and MLC votes, leaving the BJP with a clear majority.Former mayor Iresh Achatageri told TOI that HDMC has traditionally maintained a balance between Hubballi and Dharwad in the top two civic posts. “If the mayor is from Hubballi, the deputy mayor is usually from Dharwad and vice versa. The same convention is expected to continue. Three BJP women corporators from Dharwad are in the race for deputy mayor, and one of them is likely to be selected,” he said.

He added that the BJP core committee was scheduled to meet on Friday evening to finalise candidates for both posts.The new mayor and deputy mayor will face several pressing challenges, including a looming drinking water crisis amid drought-like conditions, the rising stray dog menace, footpath encroachments, sanitation issues and other key civic concerns.