Daijiworld Media Network - Kolar (SP)

Kolar, May 15: In the 28-member Kolar zilla panchayat (ZP), the JDS that has only seven members, succeeded in getting the presidentship. This happened due to the dissidence within the Congress, after people revolted against union minister K H Muniyappa's move to make his supporter Ramachandrappa the ZP president.

M Srinivasan, a JDS member from Gounipalli constituency and Navida Khanam of the Congress from Betamangala constituency became the president and vice-president of the ZP respectly, defeating their rivals M Narayanaswami and B N Kokila of the Congress Party, fielded by K H Muniyappa faction. Three members who were in K H Muniyappa faction walked over to the other faction led by K Srinivas Gowda at the last minute, angered by Muniyappa's insistence on making Ramachandrappa the ZP president. Winning candidates got 16 votes each while defeated candidates got 11 votes. One of the zilla panchayat members has been barred from voting as per a court directive.

Seething with anger over the loss of face the party has suffered because of this development, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee observer and former minister A Krishnappa announced that nine zilla panchayat members who went against the party's official candidate apart from K Srinivas Gowda, ex minister and NSUI president N Srinivas have been expelled from the primary membership of the party. He expressed the confidence that the Congress will spring back to power here, after the Lok Sabha election results are announced.