Karnataka - Others   

Zilla panchayat president to be elected today

By Our Staff Correspondent

CHITRADURGA, JULY 22. There is hectic political activity on the eve of the election to the post of president of Chitradurga Zilla Panchayat, which fell vacant last month.

The election is scheduled to be held today.

Members of the Congress unseated Soubhagya Basavarajan, who had split the party to retain the post of president around six months ago, through a no-confidence motion last month.

However, Ms. Basavarajan is still one of the aspirants to the post.

She is said to be confident that legal intricacies will not come in her way and she would get re-elected.

Though three or four names have been discussed, no candidate had been finalised from her rival camp, sources said.

The Congress-supported faction had the support of 20 people in the 31-member zilla panchayat.

Since the post had been reserved in the general women's category, every lady member of the panchayat is trying her luck in the election.

Veena Kallappa, Hanumakka, Girija Ningappa Pujari, and Saraswathi are all said to be potential rivals to Ms. Basavarajan.

According to sources, H. Venkatesh, leader of the Janata Dal (United), who was said to have played a key role in splitting the Congress, is keen on getting Ms. Kallappa elected.

There are indications that some of the members have threatened to split the group if Ms. Veena Kallappa is not made president.

On paper, the Congress-backed faction appears to have the upper hand.

However, there is some speculation that some of the members had shifted their loyalties to Ms. Basavarajan.

The exact strength of both the groups will only come to light when the elections take place.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Lokayuta directs Health Dept. to recover money from doctor
• Zilla panchayat president to be elected today
• Okkoota to oppose rehabilitation package

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu