HUBLI: With only a day left for the mayoral election, the Congress, the single largest party in the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, ruling with the help of the Janata Dal (S), is undecided on its candidate.

The party leadership is on the horns of a dilemma: whether to go by convention and allow a candidate from Dharwad to become the next Mayor or strictly go by merit.

Whatever decision the party takes, it is likely to trigger a rebellion within its ranks. With the mayor's post reserved for the Other Backward Classes "B" category, it has to make a choice among the four persons available, three of whom are from Dharwad contingent and one from Hubli.

The choice is between the 61-year-old Hanumanthapa Betageri of Dharwad and 28-year-old Mohan Asundi. Both happen to be first-time councillors and had a stint for a year as chairmen of standing committees.

The point in favour of Mr. Asundi is that he is the Leader of the House.

He has staked his claim on the ground that he was overlooked when Anil Kumar Patil became Mayor two years ago. He wants the party to redeem its promise of giving him a chance. But Jabbar Khan Honnalli, Minister for Minorities Welfare and Youth Services and president of the Hubli-Dharwad Corporation District Congress Committee, has not been vocal in supporting him.

Mr. Betageri's case is buttressed by the fact that it is the turn of the Dharwad man to occupy the post.

Morey's candidate

He has the backing of the Minister for Municipal Administration, S.R. Morey. Mr. Morey is the Minister in charge of Dharwad district.

The Dharwad contingent of the party has more councillors and all of them regard Mr. Morey as their benefactor.

Mr. Asundi has staked his claim on the grounds that youth should get preference. His performance as chairman of the standing committee and as Leader of the House supports his claim.

A meeting of the councillors convened by Mr. Morey and Mr. Honnalli on Tuesday failed to find a way out of the impasse.

It just passed a resolution leaving the matter to the discretion of Mr. Morey and Mr. Honnalli, who in turn have left the choice to the party High Command.

The Congress seems to have ignored the demand of its ally, the Janata Dal (Secular), that its nominee should be given a chance.

The Janata Dal (S) has at least three candidates who belong to the OBC "B" group. Basavaraj Horatti, Minister for Science and Technology and Janata Dal (S) leader, is yet to have talks with Mr Morey in this connection.

The party-wise break-up in the 76-member corporation Council is: Congress 32 (including five ex-officio members and three independents); JD(S): eight (including one ex-officio member) ; BJP 22 (including two ex-officio members); JD(U): 10 (including one ex-officio member) and Independents: five.

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