Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)

Beltangady, Jul 3: The election of the standing committee chairman of the local taluk panchayat was scheduled to be held on Thursday July 2. Specifically to participate in the voting and secure a win for the BJP candidate, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel had skipped the parliament session. But, with the absence of one of the voters for the BJP, it faced a humiliating defeat, as the Congress Party nominee came out victorious.

With the split among the JD (S) taluk panchayat members, both the Congress and the BJP enjoy the support of 12 members each. Out of the nine panchayat presidents who are eligible to vote, five belong to the BJP and four to Congress. MP and MLA too have voting powers. So, the BJP thought its victory was a forgone conclusion.

Mysteriously, Bandaru gram panchayat president Janaki did not attend the meeting. Hence, the BJP and the Congress got equal strength. After both sides failed to strike a compromise, election was held where both parties secured equal votes. When lots were drawn, Sunita S Bhat of the Congress party became the chairperson of the social justice standing committee. BJP candidate Prabhakar Shetty Uppadka would have bagged this post, but for the absence of the above gram panchayat president.