The Hindu : Karnataka / Madikeri News : Two from Congress in race for ZP post

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 20, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Madikeri

Two from Congress in race for ZP post

By Our Staff Correspondent

MADIKERI, SEPT. 19. Two Congress candidates are in the race for the post of President of the Kodagu Zilla Panchayat for the last 10-month term. Chitra Ramesh, whose term of office ended on September 13, is leaving no stone unturned to continue as President of the panchayat. Chitra Monnappa is making all efforts to make it to the post.

When Ms. Ramesh assumed office 10 months ago, an agreement was arrived at in the presence of senior leaders of the party in Kodagu, M.M. Nanaiah, T. John, Suma Vasant and Mittu Chengappa, that Ms. Ramesh and Ms. Monnappa would share the 20-month period.

Going by the agreement, Ms. Ramesh should vacate the office in favour of Ms. Monnappa after 10 months. But Ms. Ramesh is reluctant to give up the post. Such "agreements" have caused consternation in the Kodagu Congress in the past.

Support

Ms. Ramesh has even sought the support of C.S. Arun Machaiah, MLC, V.A. Venkatesh, President of the Virajpet Taluk Panchayat, and others who have embarrassed the Congress earlier as "rebels".

Mr. Machaiah had defeated the former Minister, T. John, in the election to the Legislative Council, and Mr. Venkatesh became the President of the taluk panchayat against the Congress wishes. The support to any of the two candidates from the Machaiah group could be significant.

There was a dispute between K.P. Chandrakala and Veena Achaiah for the post of President in the past. Ms. Chandrakala had dragged the issue to the court. Several months passed (from the second 10-month term) and finally Ms. Achaiah had to be content with only 41 days in office. One such "agreement" dented the party's image in the past involving M.M. Nanaiah and M.G. Kuttappa, who fought for the post of President of the Kodagu District Congress Committee (KDCC).

Ms. Ramesh argues that she was elected to the panchayat as a Congress candidate unlike Ms. Monnappa who joined the party 11 months ago from the Janata Parivar. Irrespective of Ms. Monnappa's party affiliation, the agreement requires Ms. Ramesh to quit the post after serving for 10 months. Sources in the Congress said Ms. Ramesh was ready to take up the issue with the party High Command.

Meeting

The issue has been brought to the notice of the Kodagu district in-charge Minister, Tanvir Sait. Both claim to have the support of Mr. Nanaiah, Mr. John and Ms. Vasant and Mr. Chengappa.

The KDCC President, Veena Achaiah's views are not clear. A meeting convened by Ms. Achaiah here on Sunday to elicit the views of Congress members in the zilla panchayat could be crucial.

The matter could reach the High Command if the meeting failed to resolve the issue, the sources said.

The issue is also seen as a "matter of prestige" rather than a "clash of ego" between the Nanaiah group and the Suma Vasant group.

The Nanaiah group is said to have expressed its views in favour of Ms. Monnappa.

The stand of the Suma Vasant group is not clear. Ms. Ramesh, however, is banking on the support of Ms. Achaiah to impress upon the party leaders in Bangalore.

Ms. Chandrakala too is said to have favoured a change in guard.

There is a contender for the post of Vice-President.

The former President, H.B. Jayamma, appears to be keen on the post on the ground that she had made way for Papu Sannayya, who is now the Vice-President.

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