Mangaluru: Political consultations among councillors of Mangaluru City Corporation and various party workers on facing the next election to the council have begun after the State government issued final notification on reservation of wards four days ago.

The Urban Development Ministry published the final notification in the State Gazette on August 10, 2018. The government had published the final notification on the delimitation of wards about two months ago.

The five-year term of the present council would end on March 7 next. Though the last election to the council was held on March 7, 2013 the council came into being a year later due to court issues.

With change in the reservation of wards, many senior councillors of the BJP and some senior councillors of the Congress have lost a chance to contest again from their respective wards.

Some of the BJP councillors who have lost their chance are former Mayor Ganesh Hosabettu from Kulai ward and former Deputy Mayor Rajendra from Dongarakery ward. Both the wards have now been reserved for women (general).

Other senior councillors like Sudhir Shetty Kannur, Vijaya Kumar Shetty, Roopa D. Bangera, Naveenchandra, and Tilakraj too have lost a chance to contest again from the same wards. However, Leader of the Opposition BJP in the council Premananda Shetty can contest again from the Mangaladevi ward as the reservation category ‘general’ remains the same.

Among the Congress councillors, former Mayor and now whip in the council M. Shashidhar Shetty has lost their chance to contest again from Derebail North as the ward has been reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate. However, former Mayors Mahabala Marla, Jecinta Vijaya Alfred, Harinath, Kavita Sanil can contest from their respective wards now. Lancelot Pinto, senior most councillor of the Congress in the council, can also contest from Bejai ward.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Premananda Shetty alleged that the government has not considered the objections filed by many BJP councillors for the draft list. Hence, many of them have lost the chances of contesting from same wards. The party would take a call on whether to approach the court or not, he said.