The Hindu

18 members of the zilla panchayat have moved the motion 

• Three of the five Janata Dal (S) members are supporting the move
• I have treated all the members equally, says Mamatha Gatti

Mangalore, Dec 23:  The special general meeting of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat, in which a motion of no-confidence moved against the panchayat president Mamatha D S Gatti will be put to vote, will be held on Friday December 29.

Fifteen BJP members and three of the five Janata Dal (Secular) members of the 35-member House had moved the motion on December 8.

Gatti, who announced the date of the meeting to presspersons on the sidelines of a function here on Friday December 22, however, chose to remain non-committal of her future after the vote. Stating that she had reposed faith in God to enable her to tide over this crisis, Gatti said she had treated all the 35 members of the panchayat equally.

Observing that it was natural to have certain differences with the members, Gatti said she had no inkling that the Opposition was planning a move to oust. However, Gatti said she had some indication of displeasure of a section of members, particularly those from the BJP, when the fifth general meeting of the panchayat was held on November 27. Gatti admitted that the present composition in the panchayat was a test of challenge for the skills of any person who donned the mantle of the president. Hitherto, it used to be a case of one party having absolute majority in the House with little or no opposition.

Even the district in-charge Minister used to be from the party, which was in power. However, at present, we were facing a different circumstance (in the panchayat), she said.

Congress had an absolute majority in the previous term comprising 31 members. However, in the present house the Congress and the BJP have 15 members each, while Janata Dal (S) has five members. Congress retained power in the panchayat in January with the support of Janata Dal (S).