Mangaluru : Harinath, a senior-most Congress councillor, was elected new Mayor and BJP candidate and Corporator of Suratkal Sumitra Kariya was chosen for the post of Deputy Mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation on Friday.

The Congress did not have a candidate to field as the post had been reserved for a Scheduled Tribe woman candidate.

Mr. Harinath defeated Roopa D. Bangera of the BJP by a margin of 16 votes. Mr. Harinath was polled 36 votes while Ms. Bangera 20 votes.

Harinath and BJP candidate Roopa Bangera contested for the post of Mayor. Since there was no Congress candidate fulfilling criteria for the post of Deputy Mayor, Sumitra Kariya was unanimously chosen.

The election was conducted in the presence of MCC Commissioner Dr HN Gopalkrishna and Additional Commissioner KM Gayathri.