HASSAN: Hassan Zilla Panchayat president Annappa Shetty submitted his resignation to RDPR principal secretary in Bangalore on Thursday. Vice-president Kamakshi Raju will take over the post till a new president is elected.

In November 2006, Hassan district in charge Minister H.D. Revanna asked Mr. Shetty to resign as it was agreed upon earlier that he would step down after completing 10 months so another candidate could be elected for the remaining 10 months. However, the Chamundeswari Assembly byelection came in the way.

On January 26, Mr. Revanna again asked Mr. Shetty to resign. Mr. Shetty asked that he be allowed to resign after offering prayers at a temple in Dharmasthala. On January 31, Mr. Shetty accompanied by Ms. Raju met the Deputy Commissioner to hand over his resignation but the Deputy Commissioner refused to receive it since the letter was to be hand written by the president and handed over to principal secretary RDPR. Mr. Shetty continued in office reportedly with the support of Janata Dal (S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda.

During the zilla panchayat meeting on March 1, the members called for a change of president and Mr. Revanna directed Mr. Shetty to hand over his resignation to RDPR principal secretary.

According to the Karnataka Zilla Panchayat Act, the president of the zilla panchayat has to write his resignation letter and submit it to RDPR secretary. The president has 15 days to rethink and withdraw his resignation. The Hassan Zilla Panchayat has to elect president from OBC (A) and vice-president must be a woman from the SC category. Hutchhe Gowda from Gandsi ZP constituency is set to be elected president. In the 39-members zilla panchayat, 35 are Janata Dal (Secular) members and four are Congress members.

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