Meenakshi Behera becomes new Mayor of Cuttack city

Meenakshi Behera of the ruling BJD was today elected unopposed as the new Mayor of Cuttack city.
A city corporator of reserved Ward No 45, Meenakshi was declared elected to the post unopposed by the state director of municipal administration, Sanjib Mishra.
The post of Mayor, reserved for scheduled caste women for the current term, had fallen vacant on December 29, 2015 after the then Mayor Anita Behera resigned over her alleged involvement in the ration card row.
The ruling BJD, which has the support of 45 corporators in the 58-member council, earlier in the day chose Meenakshi as their candidate for the mayoral by-poll.

Since Meenakshi had also applied for the ration card, the opposition Congress and BJP corporators boycotted the by-poll.
Flanked by enthusiastic party corporators, Meenakshi, said that she would work for the development of the city with the cooperation of all.

(Reopens MDS7)
Opposition parties, however, opposed the government move,
saying it could lead to corruption and horse-trading.
DMK, the main opposition in the Assembly, registered its opposition to the bill at its introduction stage in the House.
Former Chennai Mayor M Subramaniam opposed the move and wanted the existing system to continue.
BJP also slammed the move, with Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan calling for continuing with the system of people electing their mayor.

"Indirect elections will lead to corruption and horse- trading," he told reporters here.
BJP state President Tamilisai Sounderrajan also criticised the proposal. "People can decide who can be the right candidate when they directly elect the mayor," she said.
VCK founder Thol Thirumavalavan also echoed similar views.
MDMK leader Vaiko said the step was against democracy.