Ranchi

BJP-backed Neeraj Kumar was on Thursday elected deputy mayor of Ranchi Municipal Corporation, defeating Paramjit Singh by 23 votes.

The election for the post was held at the district collectorate in Ranchi, where councillors of all 53 wards, recently elected in the civic polls, cast their votes.

The contest was between Kumar, councillor of ward 31, and Singh, councillor of ward 44.

Kumar secured 38 votes, while Singh managed 15 votes, an official said.

Before the election, newly elected mayor Roshni Khalkho and councillors of all 53 wards were administered the oath of office and secrecy by district election officer (municipal)-cum-deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri.

Congratulating the elected representatives, Bhajantri said their role will be important in urban development, cleanliness, provision of basic facilities, and the effective implementation of public welfare schemes.

He expressed hope that the representatives would live up to public expectations and contribute to the overall development of the city.

Khalkho said she would work for the development of Ranchi.

"Solving every problem of citizens in Ranchi is my priority. There are challenges, but taking basic amenities to the last person in the city is my objective," she said.

Civic elections to 48 urban local bodies (ULBs), including Ranchi, were held on February 23, with over 63 per cent of the total 43 lakh voters exercising their franchise.

The results were declared on February 27 and 28.

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In Ranchi, Khalkho defeated her nearest Congress-backed rival, Rama Khalkho, by 14,363 votes. She secured 1,57,669 votes against Rama’s 1,43,306 in the contest, an official said.

The civic polls were not contested on the electoral symbols of the political parties, but candidates were mostly backed by political parties.