After the Government gave a green signal for the election to local urban bodies likes corporations, municipalities and NACs in the State and notified the reservation of seats on January 15, hectic lobby among the key aspirants is on for Mayor ticket in the ruling BJD here.
The Mayor post of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) is reserved for women candidates this time. But the decision is being opposed vehemently by the BJP and Congress. Former Ganjam district BJP president KC Pati said that the reservation of BeMC Mayor post for women is contrary to the rulings of the Supreme Court.
The SC in its historic ruling has approved only 50% reservation for women. Out of Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, and Brahmapur municipal corporations, Mayor position for two corporations has been reserved for women which constitute 70%, which is unjust. If the Government does not reconsider its decision, the BJP however will give a befitting suitable woman candidate for the position, Pati pointed out.
Similarly, Ganjam District Congress president and MLA of Sanakhemundi Ramesh Chandra Jena criticised the Government for frequent and deliberate change of the quota list to suit its interest. The Government in order to avoid internal conflict of the ruling BJD is contemplating to change the list once again, sources said.
In case the reservation list is not changed and the position is made unreserved, Congress party is having more than six highly qualified and competent woman candidates and the party after due consultation with the senior leaders will declare the name of the appropriate candidate at the appropriate time, said Jena.
Though both BJP and Congress are having many prospective candidates, but their organizations are very weak. They neither have significant contributions for the public, nor have rapport with the public; hence it would be difficult for them to face the voters.
They have kept a strict vigil on the finalisation of candidate of the ruling BJD. Meanwhile speculations are made about the finalisation of names from among a few hopfuls like Mamata Bisoyi, Madhabi, Sanghamitra Dalai and Sonali Gantayat in the BJD.
Sources said that, the ruling BJD is trying to pick up someone having strong organisation capability and leadership quality.
Notably, in the last municipal election in 40 wards, the ruling BJD had captured 21, BJP had won 2, Congress had won 16 and the remaining one had gone to Independent candidate.