Karnataka - Bijapur   

Kempalingannavar elected ZP chief

Staff Correspondent

Kasturi Kathral is vice-president

BIJAPUR: M.L. Kempalingannavar and Kasturi Kathral of the Congress have been elected president and vice-president of the Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat, respectively.

Elections were necessitated following the resignation by M.B. Soudhagar and Shivakka Pandari from the posts of president and vice-president, respectively. Though their term was for 20 months, they quit to pave the way for others as per the informal understanding reached before their election a year ago.

Mr. Kempalingannavar and Ms. Kathral will be in office for the next eight months. The Congress has a simple majority with 17 seats in the 32-member panchayat. Three members of the All-India Progressive Janata Dal (ABPJD) sided with the Congress after their leader Siddaramaiah joined the Congress. While the BJP has 10 seats, the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha and Janata Dal (Secular) have one seat each. The Congress faced anxious moments when BJP candidate Bhimshi Halaki filed his nomination for the post of president. Groupism and claims by at least three of its members for the post led to its discomfort.

Besides Mr. Kempalingannavar, Subas Talikot and Gangaiah Vasthrad also contended for the top post.

Party observers sent by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee V.S. Koujalgi and Naikar had a tough time in convincing the claimants about the party's decision.

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