THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 14: Manoj Singh was elected deputy mayor of the Medininagar Municipal Corporation unopposed on Saturday, as no other candidate filed a nomination for the post.
The election went on expected lines, with none of the 34 ward commissioners entering the contest. Singh was the only candidate to file a nomination and was declared elected uncontested.
Earlier, Manoj Singh had also been elected unopposed as ward commissioner, repeating the same feat in the deputy mayor election.
Supporters gather at collectorate
Hundreds of Singh’s supporters gathered at the collectorate premises in Daltonganj during the election process. Many supporters had travelled from Panki and Tarhassi blocks to witness the development.
Local political observers said the outcome reflected a combination of political strategy, organisational management and strong support among ward commissioners.
Role of local activists
Two emerging civil society activists, Dabloo Singh and Raju Tirkey, were widely seen as playing an influential role in the political developments.
Speaking to this correspondent, Dabloo Singh said he intends to remain active in politics and work for people.
His associate Raju Tirkey said he supports and executes the initiatives taken by Dabloo Singh.
The duo is now seen as stepping into the urban political space with an eye on future elections, including assembly polls.
Mayor Aruna Shankar takes oath
Earlier in the day, divisional commissioner Kumud Sahay administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mayor Aruna Shankar, who begins her second term as mayor of Medininagar.
Soon after the mayor’s oath, all 34 ward commissioners took the oath collectively at the ceremony.
One ward commissioner, who arrived late, took the oath separately. The entire process was supervised by additional collector Kundan Kumar and his team.
Water shortage to test civic leadership
The coming months are expected to test the new civic leadership, as Daltonganj faces recurring drinking water shortages during summer.
April and May are likely to be a crucial period for Mayor Aruna Shankar and Deputy Mayor Manoj Singh, as residents often struggle for drinking water during peak summer.
Locals say the new civic administration will be closely watched on how it handles the water crisis that affects daily life in the town.