Karnataka - Gulbarga   

`Banjaras given fair representation in panchayat elections'

Special Correspondent

Baburao Chavan using community name to tarnish Congress' image, says sangha Baburao Chavan using community name to tarnish Congress' image, says sangha

GULBARGA: The leaders of the Akhil Bharata Banjara Seva Sangha on Wednesday refuted the allegations levelled against the Congress by former Minister Mr. Baburao Chavan and said the Banjara community has been given representation in ticket distribution in zilla and taluk panchayat elections in the district.

Banjara Seva Sangha Vice-President Shanusingh Rathod, District President Ravi Rathod and Mr. Vittal Yadav accused Mr. Chavan, who was expelled from the Congress for his anti-party activities, was using the community name to tarnish the image of the Congress.

Election boycott

They said that Mr. Chavan had no right to ask the community to boycott the Congress in the election.

Addressing a press conference here, they said that the Congress had given five zilla panchayat seats to Banjara community members out of the total 16 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes.

In the total 51 seats reserved for Scheduled Castes in taluk panchayats, the community was given 20 seats, which according to them was fair representation considering the competition among different castes in the Scheduled Castes category for party ticket.

Mr. Jadav said that Mr. Chavan who rose to this position because of the Congress, had worked against the party's official candidate R.B. Chavan in Shahabad (Res) Assembly Constituency, after he was denied ticket by the party, and ensured his defeat.

He said that the Banjara community was always thankful to the Congress in the State because it was due to its initiative that the community was included in the Scheduled Castes list, which enabled it enjoy reservation.

The community leaders gave a call to the Banjara community not to be misled by the statements of Mr. Chavan.

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