Cuttack mayor Anita Behera greets her new deputy Ajay Barik on Saturday. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, March 1: Ajay Barik of the BJD was today elected as deputy mayor of the municipal corporation here, while Jitendra Mohanty, also from the same party, was elected uncontested as vice-chairman of the Baripada Municipality.

Barik, who represents ward No. 36 of Cuttack, defeated Independent candidate Hrushikesh Pradhan of ward No. 52 by a margin of 32 votes in the election for the deputy mayor’s post held at the Cuttack Municipal Corporation headquarters today.

Of the 59 councillors, 58 took part in the election process while Independent councillor Chiranjay Sahoo of ward No. 44 refrained from voting.

Barik secured 45 votes and 13 votes were cast in favour of Pradhan. Director of the municipal administration Sanjib Mishra declared the election results.

Sources said senior leaders of the BJD picked up Barik, a party activist, due to his previous experience as director of the Urban Co-operative Bank for three consecutive terms from 2009 to 2011. Besides, he had also served as secretary of the Cuttack Private Bus Owners’ Association.

“I am grateful to chief minister Naveen Patnaik for choosing me for the post. I will work for the all-round development of the city,” he said.

The new deputy mayor said adequate steps would be taken to carry out welfare works in all the 59 wards and special focus would be on sanitation and proper street lighting.

He also promised to focus on expediting various unfinished projects and timely completion of the integrated sanitation project.

The BJD has retained the post of both the mayor and the deputy mayor after it had put up an impressive show in the municipal elections by winning 36 wards of 59 wards last month.

The Congress had won nine wards and the BJP, four. Ten Independent candidates also won.

On February 13, the BJD councillor from ward No. 21, Anita Behera, was elected as the mayor unopposed.