BJP strategises ahead of Belagavi mayoral polls

Belagavi: The meeting of BJP corporators was held in Belagavi on Tuesday ahead of the mayoral elections for the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC). The meeting was held under the leadership of MLC Ravikumar, who listened to the versions of the aspirants for the mayor and deputy mayor posts.The term of the incumbent mayor and deputy mayor of the BCC ended on Feb 15. The election for the new mayor and deputy mayor is scheduled for March 15, and there has been a lot of activity in the ruling BJP. This time, the mayor's post is reserved for the general category, and the deputy mayoral post is reserved for a general woman.Of the 58 wards of the BCC, BJP holds 35 seats, Congress 10, AIMIM 1, and independents hold 12 seats. The membership of corporators Jayant Jadhav and Mangesh Pawar was recently cancelled, bringing the BJP's strength down from 35 to 33. However, the BJP has the necessary numerical strength needed to elect mayor and deputy mayor. There is a competition for power between Kannada and Marathi candidates, and there is a debate over who should become mayor from the north and south sides of the city.Legislative council chief whip and BJP MLC N Ravikumar visited Belagavi on Tuesday and sought the opinion of all 35 BJP corporators of BCC. Mayoral aspirants Raju Bathkhande, Nitin Jadhav, Mangesh Pawar, and deputy mayoral aspirants Vani Joshi, Rekha Hoogar, Savita Patil, Deepali Topagi, and Veena Bijapur gave their opinions and said they would accept the decision of the seniors.In addition to those who submitted their names to the authorities as candidates, many more are on the list of aspirants for positions of mayor and deputy mayor. Many others, including ward 24 corporator Girish Dhongadi and ward 6 corporator Santosh Pednekar, are aspirants for the mayoral post. Women members are pressuring their leaders to give them the deputy mayor's position.Ravikumar said he would act according to the decision of the party and the seniors. BJP district president Geeta Sutar presided over the meeting. Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil, BJP state vice president Anil Benake, caretaker mayor Savita Kamble, caretaker deputy mayor Anand Chauhan, ruling party leader Girish Dhongadi, advocate and senior corporator Hanumant Kongali participated in the meeting.