Karnataka - Bijapur   

Lobbying in Congress for top two posts in Bijapur Zilla Panchayat; elections today

Staff Correspondent

The Congress has simple majority with 20 seats in the 38-member body

BIJAPUR: Lobbying is on in the Congress for the posts of the Bijapur Zilla Panchayat president and vice-president elections for which are scheduled on Monday.

The Congress has simple majority with 20 seats in the 38-member body. While the Janata Dal (Secular) has 12 seats, the Bharatiya Janata Party has five members.

The All India Progressive Janata Dal (AIPJD) has one seat. While the post of the panchayat president is reserved for Schedule Caste candidate, that of the panchayat vice-president is earmarked for Backward Class "B'' group. Arjun Heeru Rathod of Arkeri segment, who is a camp follower of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) member and Tikota MLA, M.B. Patil, has emerged as the front runner for the top post. However, his way is not clear as the Muddebihal MLA, C.S. Nadagouda, and the Basavanabagewadi MLA, Shivanand Patil, have reportedly backed the candidature of Sunanda Jayram Naik representing Yarzari segment in Muddebihal taluk.

However, according to sources in the party, this group is not persistent in its demand. It is only a tactical move to get at least the post of the panchayat vice-president to one of its members. However, worried by the groupism, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) has appointed the former KPCC president, V.S. Koujalgi, and another KPCC member as observers. The KPCC leaders have called a meeting of elected members in the morning before the election. The party nominees for the two posts will be announced after eliciting the opinions of members. The party is likely to issue a whip, the sources said.

Competition for the post of the panchayat vice-president has narrowed down to two aspirants because of reservation. Bheemanagouda Nagappagouda Nagareddy representing Kannolli segment in Sindagi taluk and Shivanagouda Bheemanagouda Patil of Mamadapur segment have staked their claim to the post. Majority members within the party favour Mr. Nagareddy but as a compromise formula the balance may tilt towards Mr. Patil, the sources said.

Bagalkot

Elections for the top posts in the Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat are also scheduled for Monday. The Congress has 17 seats in the 32-member body. There are 10 BJP members and the AIPJD has three seats. The Janata Dal (S) and the Raitha Sangha have won one seat each.

As the post of the panchayat president has been reserved for general category, there are many claimants. Among them, according to the sources, Mallappa Kempalingannavar of Kundaragi segment in Bilagi taluk, Subash Talikot of Dannur segment in Hungund taluk, Kasturibayi Nadagouda of Anawal segment in Badami taluk and Mehboobsab Soudhagar of Kaladagi segment in Bagalkot taluk are serious contenders. However, leaders from Bilagi are insisting on the candidature of Mr. Kempalingannavar as the party made a clean sweep in the taluk.

The names of Shivakka Pandari representing Sunaga segment in Bilagi taluk and Kasturi Patral of Todalabagi segment in Jamkhandi taluk are making the rounds for the post of the panchayat vice-president. Ms. Pandari is a senior member as she is the only one to be elected to the panchayat for the second time. However, her chances may wane if Mr. Kempalingannavar, who is also from Bilagi taluk, is chosen for the post of the panchayat president, the sources added.

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Lobbying in Congress for top two posts in Bijapur Zilla Panchayat; elections today

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