WELL DONE: Sushma Janardhan (left), president of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, garlanding Rajashri S. Hegde who was elected vice-president of the panchayat in Mangalore on Tuesday.

MANGALORE: The expected election of Rajashri S. Hegde, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat member of Janata Dal (Secular) representing Laila constituency in Belthangady taluk, as the vice-president of the panchayat on Tuesday has given women the pride of place in the Panchayati Raj body.

With Sushma Janardhan of Bharatiya Janata Party heading the panchayat, the elevation of Ms. Hegde has ensured that women hold the top two posts for the first time in the history of the panchayat.

Ms. Hegde defeated Pramod Kumar of Congress, representing Kinnigoli constituency, by an 18-16 margin. The post was reserved for a candidate from general category. Ms. Hegde was chosen by her party for the post according to a power-sharing arrangement with the BJP.

The two parties have decided to share the post of president and vice-president alternately. Ms. Hegde will remain as the vice-president up to September 27, 2007. The election was necessitated following the removal of Dharanendra Kumar of Janata Dal (S). Mr. Kumar and fellow Janata Dal (S) member U. Babu Mugera did not associate themselves with BJP despite directions given to them by the party leaders. Instead, they chose to remain loyal to their political mentor and former Janata Dal (S) district president K. Vasanth Bangera, who was opposed to the party aligning with BJP in the district.

A.S. Srikanth, Regional Commissioner, Mysore, presided over the special general meeting convened for the purpose and conducted the election. The members expressed their preference for the candidates by raising their hands. They later affixed their signature on a sheet of paper to confirm their decision. In all, 34 out of 35 members were present. A.C. Bhandary of Congress was absent due to personal reasons. The ruling BJP-Janata Dal (S) combine has 18 members, including three from Janata Dal (S). Mr. Kumar and Mr. Babu are with Congress.

`Shed differences'

Ms. Hegde has appealed to all members of the panchayat to shed political differences and work in unison for the overall development of the district.

She thanked the leaders of her Janata Dal (S) and BJP for reposing faith in her ability and elevating her to the post. She stressed on the need for all to ensure that the various development programmes were implemented.

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