BELGAUM: In a surprising development, the ruling faction comprising Kannada, Urdu and Marathi corporators, elected Opposition leader Dhanraj Gavali as the 13th Deputy Mayor of Belgaum City Corporation on Wednesday.
Dhanraj Gavali of Vikas Vedike defeated leader of Belgaum Development Front Lathifkhan Pathan by a margin of 16 votes. Gavali secured 38 votes in the 63 member body while his rival Pathan got only 22 votes.
Mohammad Azim Patvegar, Sadiqahmed Inamdar and Natraj Lohar from the Vikas Vedike took their nominations back in support of Gavali.
Gavali, an advocate, is a first-time corporator representing ward number 19.
He was elected on a Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti ticket, then he joined the BDF and later became a Vikas Vedike member. Gavali had unsuccessfully contested the mayoral polls against Mayor N B Nirwani earlier this year and questioned his election in Court.
MLAs Satish Jarkiholi and Sanjay Patil and MP Suresh Angadi and Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Kore remained absent in the polls.
This was the first ever Mayoral poll for which a Regional Commissioner was the Returning Officer.
The administration also took the services of the civil police who worked as Marshals in the council hall instead of the corporation staff. According to rules, police are not allowed to enter the council unless the order of the head of the council in case of emergency.
Election Returning Officer Shirol informed the meeting that he would contact the government about the term of the newly-elected Deputy Mayor as the present Mayor has completed six months.