MANGALORE: The stage is set for Bharatiya Janata Party - Janata Dal (Secular) combine to stake claim for power at Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat here on Wednesday, when the members meet to elect a president.

The election has been necessitated as 18 out of 35 members in the House successfully moved a no-confidence motion against Mamatha D.S. Gatti on December 29.

Ms. Gatti, of Congress, was elected president on January 28 last for a 20-month tenure, with the help of Janata Dal (S). Vasanth Bangera, the then district unit of Janata Dal (S), had ignored the changing political scenario in the State where Janata Dal (S) severed ties with Congress and joined hands with BJP to form Karnataka Development Front Government.

Mr. Bangera's opposition to a tie up with BJP had led to Ms. Gatti's election.

BJP and Congress have 15 members each and Janata Dal (S) has five members.

After the recent byelection to Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, the BJP leadership demanded that the power equations in the panchayat be altered to reflect the changed political scenario in the State BJP and three Janata Dal (S) members supported the no-trust motion against Ms. Gatti.

Power-sharing formula

As per the new power-sharing arrangement between BJP and Janata Dal (S), a BJP candidate will be the president for the remainder of 20-month tenure for which Ms. Gatti was initially elected for and the Janata Dal (S) candidate will be the vice-president.

With the post of president reserved for BCM (A) woman candidate, BJP member Sushma Janardhan from Kotekar has emerged as the frontrunner for the post.

BJP has the support of three Janata Dal (S) members K.P. Sucharitha Shetty, Aziz Malar and Rajashree Hegde.

Resignation sought

In a related development, Muslim leaders from Ullal and Konaje area have demanded that Mr. Malar resignation for "betraying" their trust and joining hands with BJP for his "personal gains".

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