DHARWAD: With 13 members of Dharwad Zilla Panchayat passing a no-confidence motion against the current president Geeta Patil and vice-president B.B. Gangadharmatha, the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat is likely to get a new president for the remaining 20 months.

Both Geeta Patil and Gangadharmatha have completed 13 months in office as a result of alliance between Congress and Janata Dal (Secular).

According to party sources, there was an internal arrangement made by the party superiors at the time of selecting Geeta Patil for the post of president.

Continued in office

According to them it was agreed that Geeta Patil would be president for the first 12 months and Sudha Lingaraddy for the remaining 20 months. However Geeta Patil and Gangadharmatha continued to be in office. Consequently the Congress and JD(S) members were forced to move a no-confidence motion against them in the house.

Of the total 22 members in the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat nine belong to Congress, six to JD(S), three to BJP, one to Janata Party and three independent candidates. With no clear majority to any party in the zilla panchayat elections, the then coalition Government of Congress-JD(S) combine had its influence on the post poll alliance between both the parties which resulted in Geeta Patil of Congress becoming president and B.B. Gangadharmatha of JD(S), vice-president.

Memorandum

Although later the coalition Government collapsed and JD(S)-BJP led coalition came into existence, it didn't affect the zilla panchayat. Now with 13 members of Congress and JD(S) submitting a memorandum to the Chief Executive Officer of zilla panchayat against the incumbent president and vice-president, the political equations seem to be in favour of Sudha Lingaraddy. In order to prevent an embarrassing situation for both parties, the senior leaders have reportedly put forth a resignation proposal. Both Geeta Patil and Gangadharmatha have reportedly gone to Bangalore to submit their resignation.

If that happens then the "no-confidence motion" would not be held. This will pave the way for Sudha Lingaraddy to become president. According to party sources Nijanagouda Patil of JD(S) is the likely candidate for the post of vice-president.

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