Pralhad Joshi congratulates new HDMC Mayor, Deputy Mayor
Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi congratulated Durgamma Shashikant Bijawad as the new Mayor and Ratnabai Najare as Deputy Mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation on 4 July 2026, urging the new leadership to prioritise basic infrastructure and make the twin cities a model metropolis.
Key Takeaways
Durgamma Shashikant Bijawad has been elected the new Mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) .
Ratnabai Najare has been elected Deputy Mayor of HDMC.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi extended congratulations via X on 4 July 2026 and called for the twin cities to become a 'model metropolis.' Senior BJP leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Prof.
Nagaraja , MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai , and district party president Tippanna Majjagi were present at the occasion.
Both top civic posts going to women reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen female representation in Karnataka's local governance.
The new leadership is expected to focus on basic infrastructure development — roads, water, sanitation — across the twin cities.
Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday, 4 July 2026, extended congratulations to Smt. Durgamma Shashikant Bijawad on her election as Mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), and to Smt. Ratnabai Najare on being elected Deputy Mayor of the twin-city civic body.
Context
Posting in Kannada on X, Minister Joshi conveyed his hrudayapoorvaka abhinandanegalu ('heartfelt congratulations') to both newly elected office-bearers. He expressed hope that the new leadership would 'give voice to the aspirations of the common people of the twin cities' and prioritise comprehensive development of basic infrastructure, making Hubballi-Dharwad a model metropolis.
The post was accompanied by four images, likely from the swearing-in or election proceedings at the HDMC council hall. The hashtags #HDMCMayor and #DharwadConstituency trended briefly among Karnataka political circles following the announcement.
Policy Backdrop
Urban local body elections in Karnataka are conducted under the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, which mandates periodic elections for mayors, deputy mayors, and ward councillors. The HDMC administers the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad in northern Karnataka, covering civic services for a combined population of over nine lakh residents.
Hubballi-Dharwad has previously been included under central urban development initiatives focused on civic amenities and infrastructure upgrades. The election of two women to the top two posts of the corporation reflects broader state-level efforts to increase female representation in local governance structures.
Stakeholders and Impact
Minister Joshi's post also acknowledged the presence of several senior party functionaries at the occasion, including Rajya Sabha MP Prof. M. Nagaraja, BJP MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai, Legislative Council members S.V. Sankanur and Lingaraj Patil, BJP District President Tippanna Majjagi, former Mayor Smt. Jyoti Patil, and former Deputy Mayor Santosh Chavhan, along with HDMC councillors.
The presence of both sitting legislators and senior party officials signals that the BJP is closely invested in the functioning of the new civic administration. For residents, the incoming leadership's stated priority of basic infrastructure — roads, water supply, sanitation, and drainage — will be the primary benchmark of performance.
What's Next
The new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will now oversee the HDMC council's budget deliberations and ongoing civic projects. Observers will watch whether the new administration aligns capital expenditure proposals with available state and central urban development funding. Minister Joshi's public endorsement places national-level political weight behind the expectation that Hubballi-Dharwad emerges as a model for urban governance in northern Karnataka.
Point of View
Accompanied by a detailed roll-call of senior BJP legislators and party officials, is as much a display of party cohesion in the Hubballi-Dharwad region as it is a civic felicitation. The BJP's visible ownership of the HDMC election outcome positions the party to claim credit for any infrastructure gains — and share accountability for shortfalls — in the run-up to future assembly elections in northern Karnataka. The elevation of two women to the corporation's top posts also gives the party a useful narrative on women's empowerment at the grassroots level. Whether the new mayor can translate political goodwill into tangible civic improvements will determine the durability of this moment.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new Mayor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation?
Durgamma Shashikant Bijawad has been elected as the new Mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC).
Who is the new Deputy Mayor of HDMC?
Smt. Ratnabai Najare has been elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation.
What did Pralhad Joshi say about the HDMC election?
Minister Pralhad Joshi extended heartfelt congratulations and expressed hope that the new leadership would voice the aspirations of common citizens and prioritise basic infrastructure to make Hubballi-Dharwad a model metropolis.
Which BJP leaders attended the HDMC Mayor election?
Rajya Sabha MP Prof. M. Nagaraja , MLAs Arvind Bellad and Mahesh Tenginkai , Legislative Council members S.V. Sankanur and Lingaraj Patil , and BJP District President Tippanna Majjagi , among others, were present.
What is the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation?
The Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) is the civic body that administers the twin cities of Hubballi and Dharwad in northern Karnataka, providing municipal services to a combined population of over nine lakh residents.
