PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 17: Ending days of uncertainty, Rahul Singh Kashyap was elected Deputy Mayor of the Mango Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, securing a clear majority in a closely watched contest held at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office.
All 34 elected ward councillors cast their votes, with the election conducted smoothly and without any invalid ballots.
Kashyap secured 19 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Ghulam Mustafa Raja (9 votes), while Momita Chatterjee received 6 votes. The 10-vote margin reflects strong support within the council.
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Candidates and Ward Details
As per election rules, all three candidates were sitting ward councillors.
- Rahul Singh Kashyap represents Ward No. 5 (Repeat Colony, Mango)
- Ghulam Mustafa Raja represents Ward No. 26
- Momita Chatterjee represents Ward No. 4
Political Backing Proves Decisive
Political support played a key role in the outcome. Kashyap is understood to have received backing from BJP leaders, along with support from Mango Mayor Sudha Gupta and former minister Banna Gupta.
Interestingly, Raja was also seen as being close to Banna Gupta, making the contest politically significant. However, Kashyap managed to secure broader cross-factional support.
Earlier, Mayor Sudha Gupta and all 34 ward councillors, including Kashyap, took the oath as part of the official proceedings.
With a clear mandate, Rahul Singh Kashyap is set to assume office as Deputy Mayor, with expectations of improved civic governance in Mango.