Finally, Anant Narayan (Bunu) Jena got a second term to serve as Mayor of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). Ending all speculations about introduction of new faces, Jena was elected uncontested on Friday. It was announced by BMC Administrator Sanjib Mishra at the BMC office here.
Earlier on the day, BJD president and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced Jena’s name as the party’s candidate for the Mayor elections. Even a party meeting was held on Thursday evening at the Naveen Niwas to finalise the contenders’ names for the coveted post. According to reports, Jena was the only corporator to file nomination papers for the Mayor post. When none else filed it, Jena was elected unopposed.
Over the last eight days, names of five corporators were doing the round for the Mayor’s post. Out of the five, Jena’s chances wre more as he had won the polls by the largest margin besides being an experienced and popular leader among his fellow corporators. Jena had won by the highest margin of over 4,300 votes.
Among others, three-time corporator Sk Nizamuddin, two-time corporator Amaresh Jena, Health Minister’s daughter Preetinanda Routray and Mahamaya Swain were in the top contenders’ list. Notably, BJD won 49 seats out of 67 in the BMC polls which were conducted on January 8 last.