Mangaluru :
Jacintha Vijay Alfred of Congress is the new mayor of Mangaluru. The 45-year-old former de-addiction counsellor-turned-business woman succeeds Mahabala Marla, whose term ended on March 11.
Jacintha represents Falnir ward. Purushottam Chitrapur, 44, representing Baikampady ward, also of Congress, is the new deputy mayor.
In the elections to the posts held on Thursday, Jacintha defeated Roopa D Bangera of BJP by 38-20 margin with five members including two from JD(S), one each from CPM, SDPI and the lone independent remaining neutral. The post of mayor was reserved for a general (woman) candidate. Purushottam defeated K Rajesh, also of BJP by a 37-20 margin with the five members again remaining neutral. The post of deputy mayor was reserved for a general candidate.
A fourth time corporator, Jacintha — formerly a counsellor with Link Trada De-Addiction Centre and St Joseph’s Prashanth Nivas Society — was the chairperson of the standing committee on taxation, finance and appeals in the council headed by Marla. She pipped Prathibha Kulai and Kavitha Sanil as the choice of party leaders to head the city corporation for a one-year tenure till March 11, 2016.
Likewise, Purushottam, who served as a nominated corporator in the past, was the chairman of the standing committee on accounts under Marla’s stewardship.
Jacintha, an alumnus of School of Social Work, Roshni Nilaya, where she obtained her BSW degree, did not forget to pay tribute to her mentor and former minister late Blasius M D’Souza who spotted her as a counsellor and brought her in to politics. Jacintha with her husband Vijay Alfred run their business and have Vijitha Mariola, a high school student as their only child. She entered in to politics alongside Marla and former mayor M Shashidhar Hegde.
Purushottam and Jacintha thanked the party leaders headed by district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai for reposing faith in them and for giving them the opportunity to serve people. The deputy mayor recalled his hard upbringing where he had to work during the day and study at Besant Evening College to earn his BA degree. “The party has given various assurances to the electorate in the manifesto. We will strive to fulfill the same,” he said.
Mayor speak:
“I will pay attention to ensure proper amenities to citizens. The focus will be on mobilization of finances to take forward the development agenda. Footpaths, a well-knit underground drainage, new three-package solid waste management system and drinking water supply to all areas will be the top priorities,” said Jacintha Vijay Alfred.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /Home> City> Mangaluru / TNN / March 13th, 2015