By S Nandagopal

MANGALORE: After a long delay and hectic lobbying, the Karnataka government has finally announced reservation for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of the Mangalore City Corporation.

The order reaching the Corporation here on Monday said the mayor's post is reserved for the general category. The deputy mayor's post has been reserved for `B' category.

Deputy Mayor Basheer Bykampady said the election for the mayor's post is expected to be held in the first week of June and the date will be decided within a couple of days.

Since 1996, the Congress has ruled the Corporation and all the four elected mayors have had a tough time making it to the hot seat. Reservation for the plum post has always been a point of controversy catalysed by bitter groupism in the party. Not only that, the party had twice conceded the deputy mayor's seat to the Janata Dal, but also had to experience some embarrassment during the elections. This year too, the scene is no different.

Party sources said the nature of reservation as well as the delay in the announcement of the same were due to differences of opinion among the pressure groups.

With regard to the candidature for the mayor's post, Basheer Bykampady said the House had 12 Muslim corporators and that it has been a general demand to provide an opportunity to a candidate from the community. He refused to divulge any further information.

It is learnt that the Muslim candidates have left no stone unturned to wrest the post. All the party leaders in the district have been contacted and apprised of their demand. Their contention is that the Muslim nominees have long been neglected and it was almost 15 years since Abdul Kader was elected mayor.

It is said though the Muslim corporators are united in their demand, there is no consensus on mayoral candidature.