Karnataka - Bijapur   

Sangeetha Dinni elected Bijapur ZP president

All smiles: Amita Prasad (left), Regional Commissioner of Belgaum Division, congratulating newly elected Bijapur ZP president Sangeetha Dinni on Saturday.

BIJAPUR: After much behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring, Sangeetha Chennappa Dinni and Baburao Shivgondappa Metri, both Congress members, were elected president and vice-president respectively of the zilla panchayat here on Saturday.

The Janata Dal (Secular), which had the support of 17 members, including a five-member BJP group in the 38-member elected body, fielded Lakshmibayi Tukaram Hirekurubar and Siddu S. Patil for the post of president and vice-president respectively, hoping that it could take advantage of the anticipated split in the Congress. As there was no sign of a rebellion in that party, the Janata Dal (Secular) candidates withdrew their nominations at the last moment paving the way for the unopposed election of Ms. Dinni and Mr. Metri.

Amita Prasad, Regional Commissioner of Belgaum Division, who was the Election Officer, declared the two elected. Ms. Dinni took charge from interim president Sunanda Naik.

While Ms. Dinni represents the Sarwad ZP segment in Bijapur taluk, Mr. Metri has been elected from the Tadavalaga segment in Indi taluk. The post of president is earmarked for a woman from the Backward Class 2 A category that of vice-president from the general category.

The former Minister V.S. Koujalgi, who was deputed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee as observer, announced the names of Ms. Dinni and Mr. Metri a few minutes before the nomination process was to begin at 10 a.m. The party also issued a whip to its members asking them to vote for the official nominees. Also, an informal understanding was reached at the party level, according to which Ms. Dinni would hand over charge to Apsara Begum Rajesab Chapparbandh representing the Nidgundi segment in Basavanabagewadi after 10 months in office. Mr. Metri will also put in his papers after 10 months. Both of them have given written undertakings to the party leadership.

Ms. Chapparabandh, who is part of the faction led by M.B. Patil, Tikota MLA, and the former Minister B.S. Patil Sasanur, was hoping that she would be given a chance in the first half of the 20-month term, but Ms. Dinni was chosen. Following pressure from Kuruba community leaders, Bheerappa Jummappa Sasanur switched his loyalty to the faction led by Shivanand Patil, Basavanabagewadi MLA, and C.S. Nadagouda, Muddebihal MLA, which sponsored Ms. Dinni’s candidature.

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