Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 26: Election for the post of the president and vice-president of Dakshina Kannada zillal panchayat (ZP) was scheduled to be held on Tuesday May 26. However, the election process has got postponed for the time being, as the state High Court has stayed the election. The term of the ZP president and vice-president is set to end on Wednesday May 27. At president, a BJP-JD (S) alliance is in power at the ZP here.

Under the Panchayati Raj Act, there is a provision for the president of the social justice committee of the ZP to discharge duties and responsibilities of the ZP president till a new president and vice-president are elected. As such, Venkat Dambekody, who is currently the social justice committee president of the ZP here, will function as the ZP president till the new president and vice-president take over.

As the term of the standing committees is set to end on June 27, election to the posts of the standing committee presidents will be held before that date.

The presidentship of the final phase of 20 months of the zilla panchayat has been earmarked for the general category, with the vice-presidentship going to backward class-A. As a writ petition has been preferred against this reservation, the High Court has stayed the election process. It may be recalled, that the presidentship of the ZP had been earmarked for the general category in the last phase too. Election in several others districts has also been stayed because of allegations of improper rotation of reservation for candidates.

Election for the post of zilla panchayat member from Panaje constituency, which has fallen vacant due to the death of ZP member Karunakar Pervody will be held on June 14.