Mangaluru: Reelection in Gurupura GP irks several

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 16, 2015:  Addressing the media, Former minister Krishna Palemar has taken serious objections to the move of Administrative Officer of Gurupur Gram Panchayat to conduct re-election to the post of president and vice president of the panchayat on July 23. 

Palemar said that Shobha and Mohammed Sadiq (both backed by the BJP) had filed their nomination for the post of president and vice president of Gurpur gram panchayat respectively on July 13.   The Administrative officer had scrutinised their papers and declared that both the papers were in order.

As per the Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Election to the post of president and Vice president) Rules, 1995, if there is only one contestant, the officer should declare the person officially elected.

Here, in the case of Gurupur gram panchayat, though there were no other contestant, the election officer deferred the election citing lack of quorum as all the 22 members (backed by Congress) walked out of the meet allegedly citing that they wanted the reservation (to the post of president) should be changed.

Instead of declaring the only candidate elected, the official not only postponed the election, but sent another circular on July 14 re-inviting contestants to file fresh papers for the election scheduled to be held on July 23.  It was pointed out that nowhere in history such an incident has taken place.

Stating that the party would approach the court for legal action if the anomalies are not set right at the earliest, Palemar cited the example of Gulzar Banu (of Congress) who became the Mayor of Mangalore City Corporation though the Congress did not have majority in the MCC due to a technical problem.

To a query on whether the issue was brought to the notice of the DK DC, Palemar said that the deputy commissioner is aware of the incident and said that the deputy commissioner in a letter has stated that he does not have any power to change the reservation.  Former mayor Shankar Bhat and BJP leader Narayana Gatti and others were present.