The Hindu : Karnataka / Belgaum News : Opposition seeks early election for Mayor's post

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 09, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Belgaum

Opposition seeks early election for Mayor's post

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, AUG. 8. The Opposition in the Belgaum City Corporation has set August 15 as the deadline for the Government to issue a notification to facilitate election to the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

It has threatened to launch an agitation if the Government does not respond to its demand.

Notification

The one-year term of Sambhaji Patil as Mayor and Veena Kolkar as Deputy Mayor ended on June 30. But with some members approaching the High Court challenging a Government notification reserving the post of Mayor for a woman candidate from the general category and not for a Scheduled Caste candidate, elections could not be held according to the schedule.

The court upheld the Government's stand as a notification had already been issued. But it directed the Government to ensure that the Mayor's post was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate during the next Mayoral term. Now, as the ruling party is maintaining silence over the delay in rescheduling the election after the court's order, the Opposition is apparently angry.

Earn time

The Opposition has alleged that the ruling group, which enjoys the support of the Congress, wants to delay the election as far as possible in a bid to earn time to sort out its own problems as four members are said to be keen on contesting for the coveted post. The ruling group comprises members of the Samabhashik Samavichar Vikas Vedike and the Urdu group, who are yet to arrive at a consensus on the candidate.

Meanwhile, Ms. Ajrekar has announced that she will contest for the post.

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Opposition seeks early election for Mayor's post