The stalemate over the posting of the Commissioner of Mangalore City Corporation continued on Monday with H. Prasanna, a Karnataka Administrative Service officer, staying away from the office on the consecutive fifth working day after taking charge on July 16.
Refusing to elaborate, Mayor Mahabala Marla said that Mr. Prasanna had gone to Bangalore. When asked if he had extended the leave, the Mayor said that only the government knew about that. Earlier Mr. Marla had said that Mr. Prasanna had applied leave from July 17 to July 20.
Mr. Prasanna was not available for comment. Ajith Kumar Hegde S., who was the Commissioner of the corporation and who is currently under training in Hyderabad, said that he was not aware of any developments.
ADVERTISEMENT
Sources in the corporation said it had become an issue of prestige now as the ruling Congress councillors were divided over the posting. One group sought to retain Mr. Hegde, while another wanted a change. The matter might be settled on Tuesday, they said.