Mayor’s post goes to disqualified member

Belagavi

 BJP candidates Mangesh Pawar and Vani Vilas Joshi were elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively by a majority in the elections held for the 23rd term of the  Municipal Corporation.

The post of Mayor was reserved for a general and the post of Deputy Mayor was reserved for a general woman. The BJP, which has 40 members, once again succeeded in taking the helm of the corporation. Mangesh Pawar, a Marathi, is a member of the 41st ward and is a weaver by profession. Vani Joshi, a Kannada, is a member of the 43rd ward.   With this, MLA Abhay Patil continues to hold the tight grip of the corporation.

The election process was started by Regional Commissioner SB Shetten. BJP's Mangesh Pawar, Raju Bhatkhande, independent candidate Basavaraj Modagekar, and AIMIM's Shahid Khan Pathana filed 2 nominations each for the post of Mayor.   Raju Bhatkhande and Shahid Khan Pathana withdrew their nominations.

  Later, an election was held between Mangesh and Basavaraj. 40 votes were cast in favor of Mangesh and 5 against.   Basavaraj received 20 votes in favor and 40 against. Therefore, the election officer declared Mangesh Pawar as the Mayor.

Similarly, Vani Vilas Joshi, Deepali Topagi, Khurshid Mulla, Lakshmi Lokari filed   nominations each for the post of Deputy Mayor. Khurshid Mulla and Deepali withdrew their candidatures.   Vani Joshi, who remained in the fray, got 40 votes for and 19 against. Lakshmi Lokari got 20 votes for and 40 against.   was declared the Deputy Mayor.

MP Jagadish Shettar, MLA Abhay Patil, Legislative Council member Sabanna Talwara, Municipal Commissioner B Shubha were present.