Newly elected mayor Abir Patra (centre), deputy mayor Nilakshi Talukdar, Assam PCC president Bhubaneshwar Kalita and party members outside the District Library on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photo

Guwahati, July 31: The city today got a mayor after five years.

Abir Patra, councillor of ward 18, was elected the mayor in the first meeting of the newly elected GMC council held at District Library here.

Nilakshi Talukdar became the deputy-mayor.

In the meeting, presided over by Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri, all members of the council and area sabhas were administered the oath of office.

The Assam PCC last evening decided to make Patra the mayor after an election among its elected councillors.

The situation, however, took a dramatic turn today with councillor of ward 13 Nipon Kumar Kalita proposing the name of Ashima Bordoloi, daughter of Robin Bordoloi, for the mayor’s post and two other councillor, Dipa Hazarika and Anima Deka, supporting the proposal.

When the situation demanded an election, BJP candidates projected Mrigen Sarania for the post.

The impasse was, however, resolved and the election averted when Assam PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita intervened.

There were reports that the dilemma was resolved only with “a deal” that the five-year term of the mayor would be divided equally among Patra and Bordoloi — two-and-half-years each.

Kalita, however, dismissed the report.

“There is no deal. We have some understanding within the party and the councillors to accommodate some more leaders in the seven standing committees,” he said.

There was resentment among a section of area sabha members when the district administration officials asked them to vacate the dais while the mayor and deputy mayor were selected and administered oath.

“We are elected representatives. Besides, we were invited here to take part in all the events mentioned in the agenda. We were hurt when we were asked to vacate the place,” Ganesh Barman, an area sabha member, said.

“This is not new for me as I was mayor earlier too. I am happy that the party has given me the responsibility to serve the people. There are many problems in Guwahati. People have elected us with lots of hope,” Patra said after becoming the mayor.

The last council was dissolved in May 2008.