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National

The focus is on ZP constitution

Vishwa Kundapura

There is a tussle among Congress aspirants to head the panchayat body

KOLAR: With Chickballapur district becoming a reality, the attention has now turned to the formation of a zilla panchayat. Hectic lobbies are going on to head the designated pivotal panchayati raj institution in the new district. Many members of the body have started ground work to become either president or vice-president of it.

The strength of the undivided Kolar Zilla Panchayat is 55. And the number of members of the Chickballapur Zilla Panchayat will be 27 from six taluks.

The Congress has 20 members while the Janata Dal (Secular) has seven. The BJP does not have any representative in this region.

The taluk-wise break-up is Chintamani Congress 6; Siddlaghatta Congress 4; Bagepalli Congress 3 and Janata Dal (S) 1; Gudibande Congress 2; Gowribidnur Congress 3 and Janata Dal (S) 4; and Chickballapur Congress 2 and Janata Dal (S) 2.

Having absolute majority, the Congress’ power in the new zilla panchayat is a foregone conclusion. But the only curiosity is who will become the president of the panchayat. In any case, the Janata Dal (S) has to be content with the Opposition party status.

Though the Government is yet to make known the quota for the posts of panchayat president and vice-president, efforts are being made to reserve the president’s post for the general category. Two members from the party are in the race from this category. They are Chikkanarasimaiah from Bagepalli taluk and S.A. Srinivas from Gowribidnur taluk.

The calculations in political circles of the new district indicate that if the panchayat chief’s post is reserved for Scheduled Caste, there may be a tough fight among Chendur Venkatesh, D.V. Obalappa and Poojappa.

And in the event the quota goes in favour of Scheduled Tribe, Congress members S. Muniyappa and D. Muniraju are certain to vie with each other to get the support of the party to become the panchayat head.

As there are more aspirants in the fray, the onus is on the leaders of the party to make an unanimous choice.

Efforts would be made to chose the candidates for both the posts unanimously, party sources said. Having representatives belonging to all the categories is an advantage to the Congress. Thus it is in a comfortable situation to win both the posts irrespective of the reservation factor, it is said.

It is normal practice to form a zilla panchayat whenever a district is bifurcated and a new district is carved out.

As the elections for the zilla panchayat president and vice-president posts are due in the State, it is expected that the process would be completed in the new district along with rest of the zilla panchayats.

According to reports, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj has prepared a list of reservations for all the zilla panchayats in the State and the related file is awaiting approval of the Chief Minister. In all probability the list will be made known within couple of days, it is said.

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