KMC all set for Mayoral poll today

Kolkata: The stage is all set for holding the poll for electing the new Mayor at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Monday. The voting will start at 1 pm sharp and will continue till 2.30 pm. The venue for holding the monthly meeting of the civic body will be the place where four booths have been set up for the polling.

It may be mentioned that Firhad Hakim, who holds the post of state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister, has been chosen as the Mayor designate by councillors of Trinamool Congress, following Sovan Chatterjee's resignation from the post.

Mina Debi Purohit from BJP will contest against Hakim for the Mayoral post, while Left Front and Congress have announced that they will boycott the voting.

"We have as many as 122 elected councillors and we are hopeful that all of them will cast their votes in favour of Hakim. So, the wait for him sitting on the chair of the Mayor is just a matter of formality," a senior KMC councillor said.

Hakim is scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony, attired in dhoti- panjabi. Deputy Mayor designate Atin Ghosh will also take oath on Monday.

Interestingly, Hakim on Sunday called up former Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, who is also the councillor of Ward 131 of Trinamool Congress and urged him to be present for the voting on Monday.

It may be mentioned that the Calcutta High Court on Friday had refused to stay the election for the Mayoral post in KMC.

CPI(M) councillor Bilquis Begum had moved the high court, challenging Hakim's election on the ground that he was not an elected councillor from any of the wards of the civic body.

KMC chairperson Mala Roy held a meeting on Friday with the councillors and urged them all to be present for the voting.