Direct contest for PMC mayor election today

PATNA: The election for the post of PMC mayor on Tuesday would be a straight fight between Jeet Kumar (councillor of ward number 13) and former mayor Afzal Imam (ward number 52). The poll would be held at the Patna collectorate's conference hall under the supervision of district administration.
Patna DM Pratima SK Verma told TOI that barricading and installation of CCTV cameras have already been completed.Additional force would be deployed to ensure smooth election.
"Patna Municipal Corporation would not be involved in conducting the election, except for the fact that four executive officers would be there to check the identity of councillors," said PMC commissioner Jai Singh.
The post of mayor has been lying vacant for nearly a month after Imam lost the no-confidence motion brought against him on July 15, in which 38 of the 42 votes cast favoured the motion. Ward 28 councillor Vinay Kumar Pappu, who had moved the no-confidence motion against Imam, also moved the Patna high court against Imam contesting the election. He said, "Imam has already been ousted once, so there is no need (for him) to contest again. He is wasting everyone's time."
Pappu claimed the candidate of his group, Jeet Kumar, would win the election with at least 50 votes. However, ward 22 councillor Sanjeev Kumar, who is in favour of Imam, said, "Pappu and his associates tried a lot to stop Imam from contesting the election, but they failed, and in the election also they will fail. There is no doubt that Imam would emerge a winner."