Hubballi: BJP retained its hold over the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) by winning the mayoral elections held here on Saturday.BJP’s Durgamma Shashikant Bijwad, corporator from Ward 69, was elected the 25th mayor, while Ratnabai Ekanath Nazare of Ward 9 became the 25th deputy mayor of the twin cities. Of the 88 voters present, BJP secured 50 votes for both posts. Union minister Pralhad Joshi, Rajya Sabha MP M Nagaraj, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai, MLC Lingaraj Patil, Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya and MLC FH Jakkappanavar participated in the voting process.With the mayor’s post reserved for an SC woman, BJP had narrowed its choice to two eligible corporators—Bijwad and Chandrika Mestri of Ward 56. However, the party failed to arrive at a consensus during its core committee meeting on Friday evening. A similar situation prevailed for the deputy mayor’s post, reserved for women in the general category, where nine corporators were in contention. As Pralhad Joshi arrived late on Friday night, the final decision was deferred to Saturday morning.Sources said both Bijwad and Mestri enjoyed substantial support among BJP corporators, with Mestri reportedly having an edge due to her educational qualifications. However, her past decision to quit the party is believed to have worked against her. The party eventually chose Bijwad for the mayor’s post and Nazare for deputy mayor.Nominations were accepted between 9am and 11am. After filing their papers, most BJP corporators attended a programme at the HDMC Chitaguppi Hospital as the election was scheduled for 1pm.Regional commissioner KM Janaki, the returning officer, began the proceedings at 1pm. Spotting several unauthorised persons inside the hall, she directed HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali to have them removed. As officials struggled to clear the hall, Ghali personally stepped in to supervise the operation.Janaki informed the House that HDMC has a total electoral strength of 92 and that 88 members were present. Congress corporator Kavita Danappa Kabber of Ward 20 contested the mayoral post, while Dilshad Begum Nadaf of Ward 6 contested for deputy mayor. AIMIM corporator Vaheedakhanam Allabaksh Kittur of Ward 76 was also in the fray for deputy mayor.Bijwad and Nazare secured 50 votes each. Congress candidates Kabber and Nadaf polled 35 votes. AIMIM’s three corporators remained neutral in the mayoral election but voted for Kittur in the deputy mayoral contest.Box: Two Congress corporators barred from votingTwo Congress corporators—Mohammed Iliyas Maniyar (Ward 63) and Deepa Santosh Neeralkatti (Ward 7)—were denied entry after arriving late, by which time attendance had already been recorded by the returning officer.As Neeralkatti argued with officials at the entrance, fellow Congress corporator Mohammed Iqbal Navalur of Ward 55 attempted to intervene. Seeing the commotion, Commissioner Ghali rushed to the spot and informed Neeralkatti that she could not be allowed inside as the deadline had passed. When Navalur moved towards the entrance, Janaki warned him against leaving the hall before the completion of the election process.“Since you are all elected representatives, I am liberal enough here. But don’t misuse it,” she cautioned.
