Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 12: The court of the district deputy commissioner, through a verdict delivered on Monday May 11, disqualified municipal memberships of the municipal president of the city council here Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty, and those of councillors, Naveenchandra Naik, Deeksha Pai, Seema Gangadhar, Kamala Anand, and Rekha Yashodhar.

Nellikatte Jagadish Shetty had fought during the election for the post of the municipal president, against the official candidate fielded by his own Congress party. Five other Congress councillors had revolted against the party and supported him. All the 12 BJP councillors had also voted in the election in favour of Shetty. As a result, official candidate of the Congress, H Mohammed Ali, had been defeated.

Thereafter, Mohammed Ali approached the court of the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, seeking disqualification of memberships of six councillors including Jagadish Shetty under the anti defection law meant for local bodies. The court, which conducted hearings in the case, announced its decision on Monday.

In the previous election too, Vani Sridhar from the Congress had fought against Congress official candidate, H Mohammed Ali. Vani was elected as president with the support of BJP councillors. Mohammed Ali had approached the DC court and obtained order cancelling municipal membership of Vani. Although Vani has since been permitted by the state high court to take part in general sessions of the municipal council, she does not have the right to vote.

With these developments, the strength of the Congress, which stood at 15 in the past, has been reduced to 8. BJP, which has 12 councillors, has gained stronghold in this civic body.