Daijiworld Media Network - Dharwad (SP)

Dharwad, Jun 17: The state election commission, on June 10, ordered the cancellation of memberships of four zilla panchayat members who violated the whips which were issued by their party, the BJP, and supported the Congress when the no-confidence motion was moved against the zilla panchayat president. This naturally has given rise to another bout of political one-upmanship between different parties.

Manjavva Harijan representing Tabakadahonnalli constituency, Ratna Patil of Garag constituency, Annappa Desai from Galagi constituency and Jyothi Bentoor of Gudageri constituency were facing allegations of violating the whip. They have lost their memberships. 

The political battle had taken place in February 2019 when BJP's Chaitra Shiroor was the zilla panchayat president here. The Congress had moved the said no-confidence motion against Chaitra, which supported the four persons named above even though they were representing the BJP.

As the BJP fell short of numbers, the party lost the motion and Chaitra Shitoor was forced to step down. The Congress came to power thereafter.

The BJP had launched a legal battle against the four members who caused its downfall. The then BJP district president Eranna Jadi had sought disqualification of the four members named above under Anti Defection Law as they had violated the party whip.