Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal
Bantwal, Sep 2: Karunakar Gowda Naithottu from the BJP has been elected as the president, and Sangeetha Panemajalu, also from the BJP, has been elected as the vice president of the Vittal town panchayat for the next two and a half years.
In the 18-member Town Panchayat, the BJP holds a majority with 12 members, while the Congress has five members, and one member belongs to the SDPI. For the president's position, only Karunakar Gowda from the BJP filed a nomination. For the vice president's position, nominations were filed by Sangeetha Panemajalu from the BJP and Padmini from the Congress. Including the vote from MP Brijesh Chowta, the BJP candidate secured 13 votes, while the Congress candidate, with the support of one SDPI vote, secured six votes. Some legislators who arrived late did not cast their votes.
The election process was overseen by tahsildar Archana Bhat and town panchayat chief officer Gopal Naik.
Notable attendees included MP Brijesh Chowta, MLA Ashok Rai, former MLA Sanjeeva Matandur, BJP Rural Mandal President Dayananda Shetty Ujiremaru, vice president Puneet Madattaru, Vittal Shakti Kendra president Uday, former president Arun Vittal, leaders Jagannath Salian, Saj Radhakrishna Alva, Chanila Thimmappa Shetty, Premananda Narasappa Poojary, Jayant, Raviprakash Harish, and Congress leaders M S Muhammad and Muralidhar Rai Mathanabettu.
Priority for town panchayat development
The newly elected president and vice president have stated their commitment to the development of the Town Panchayat. They plan to work diligently to secure state and central grants under the guidance of senior party leaders.
Election held after two years and eight months
The Town Panchayat election was held on December 27, 2021, to elect the members. However, the election process for the president and vice president was delayed due to reservation issues pending in court. Now, after two years and eight months, the election for the president and vice president of the town panchayat has taken place.