The Hindu : Karnataka / Hubli News : Congress in a spot in Dharwad Zilla Panchayat

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka - Hubli

Congress in a spot in Dharwad Zilla Panchayat

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI, NOV. 10. The Congress, which controls the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat, stands vertically split ever since a six-member rebel group defeated the party's official candidate with the support of the BJP and the Janata Dal (United) in the election of the President.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, on the basis of a report submitted by a two-member committee of party observers, has initiated disciplinary action against the rebel group, including the newly elected President, Shantavva Gonal.

The Congress has now moved an application before the authorities concerned seeking the disqualification of the members who voted against the party candidate. While the party observers who supervised the election claimed that the rebels had refused to obey the whip, the contention of the rebels was that no whip was served on them and that they were unaware of the party observers' visit.

However, what is interesting is whether the party can seek the disqualification of the recalcitrant members, who constitute more than one-third but little less than 50 per cent of the party's membership in the zilla panchayat.

Official sources in the zilla panchayat maintained that anti-defection rules had been amended to permit the disqualification while the rebels maintained that no action could be taken against them.

However, it is clear that the Congress will lose the post of President if it persists with the demand to disqualify the members.

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Congress in a spot in Dharwad Zilla Panchayat