Srinagar: All the speculations have been put to rest for the post of Srinagar Muncipal Corporation Mayorship as Junaid Azim Mattoo was on Tuesday appointed the Mayor of SMC.
Mattoo was a Mayoral candidate of Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference. He defeated Congress’s Bashir Hajam.
Him being the SMC Mayor was a chatter all around the political circles and after Governor Jammua and Kashmir Satya Pal Malik said that the summer capital will have a foreign educated Mayor, the grapevine became more strong.
Even though Malik later said that his comments were mis represented, todays SMC Mayorship results will however only cement what was thought to be an ‘overall plan’.
Political parties had criticised governor’s remark as that undermined the secret ballot results that yet to be decided that time.
Grapevine among political circles is the Matoo, a PC candidate, was a favorite for BJP as well and were canvassing for him as well.
“Junaid of PC got 40 votes,Congress candidate got 26 while 4 votes were declared invalid,” sources said. Sources said that Saleem lone, an independent, has been elected deputy mayor.
Hailing from uptown Srinagar, Matto came into politics after 2010 summer uprising and joined Sajad’s Peoples Conference as its spokesperson. He deserted the PC and joined National Conference and was again appointed spokesperson.
However, just before the municipal elections, Matto deserted the NC and fought the municipal elections independently. He won from Solina in Srinagar and soon got support of his former chairman Sajjad Lone.
