Pics: Joshwa D'Souza/Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV/JS)

Mangaluru, Apr 28: Meenakshi Shantigodu of BJP has been elected president of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat. Kasturi Panja, also of BJP has been elected vice-president.

The election to the post of ZP president and vice-president was held at the Netravati hall of the zilla panchayat office here on Thursday April 28. The post of the president was reserved for a candidate from the SC/ST community and that of the vice-president for a candidate from the general category.

Meenakshi Shantigodu who secured 21 votes defeated Congress candidate Shekar Kukkedi who got 15 votes.

Kasturi Panja of BJP defeated Anitha Hemanath Shetty from Congress by the same margin of votes.

The Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat, elections to which were held in February this year, has 36 seats, out of which BJP had won 21 and Congress 15.

Election officer A M Kunjappa, ZP CEO Srividya and other officials were present.

Speaking to reporters later, the newly-elected president Meenakshi said, "My first priority will be to solve drinking water problem. I will also focus on improving basic amenities in rural areas. The party has given me this responsibility, and I need the cooperation of both the ruling party as well as the opposition to undertake development works." She also thanked BJP leaders and party workers for their support.

Vice-president Kasturi Panja said, "I thank all my senior party leaders for choosing me as the vice-president. I have been working for BJP since 1993. My focus will be on development works."

Both of them were elected to the ZP for the first time.

BJP Press Meet

Addressing a press meet at the district BJP office here on Thursday April 28, BJP president Pratap Simha Nayak said that the results of town panchayats in Kotekar, Vittal and overall in the entire state show that people are dissatisfied by the rulling Congress government and it may be thrown out of power in the next Assembly elections.

On the newly-elected ZP president and vice-president from BJP, he said, "After considering all the factors, the party chose Meenakshi from Panaje constituency for the post of president and Kasturi Panja for the vice-president's post. The ruling BJP in the zilla panchayat will introduce various schemes to fulfill the promises made in its manifesto.

"Anti-environment attitude of the state government has caused severe water problem in the district. The state government has behaved irresponsibly in this situation of drought. Not only in this, but in every issue the government's careless attitude is evident. It has been two months since the ZP results were out; if the government had sent the reservation list in advance it would have been easier for the zilla panchayat to take neccessary steps.

"The party is of the opinion that the zilla panchayat should make rainwater harvesting compulsory in community housing and every new house that is constructed. Necessary steps will be taken to implement Prime Minister's Swachh Bharat programme. Zilla panchayat will take necessary steps in planting saplings and thereby promote greenery in the surroundings," he said.

Former minister J Krishna Palemar and others were present