Joshi: Govt withholding funds of HDMC

Voting took place in presence of 87 members, including an MP, an MLC, and three MLAs

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Hubballi

JYOTI Patil of the BJP has been elected as new mayor of Hubballi-Dharwad, with Santosh Chawan chosen as deputy mayor. In the election held on Monday, Jyoti and Santosh defeated Congress candidates Suvarna Kallakuntla and Shambhugouda Salamani, respectively, by securing a majority of 47 votes. The voting took place in the presence of 87 members, including an MP, an MLC, and three MLAs.

Three members, one each from the BJP, Congress and AIMIM, contested for the mayoral post, which was reserved for the general-woman category. Both the national parties had finalised their candidates' names just an hour before the filing of the nomination paper began. Since none of the members withdrew their nomination, the election became inevitable.

As the elections were administered by Regional Commissioner S B Shettannavar and overseen by Assistant Regional Commissioner S S Biradar and HDMC commissioner Rudresh Ghali, the polling process was held by raising hands for and against the candidate contested. Jyoti, a member from Ward No 19 in Dharwad, secured 47 votes against 37 of Suvarna from Ward No 59 in Hubballi. Three members from the AIMIM did not vote, but they polled for their candidate, Waheeda Khanam Kittur.