Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network–Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Mar 22: 'Anything is possible in politics' seems to have been proved in the election to the posts of president and vice-president of Kundapur town municipal council held here on Tuesday, March 22.

The expectations of Congress leaders that the post of president would go to its member took a beating in last minute developments. Congress rebel candidate Vasanthi Mohan Saranga, a supporter of former MP Jayaprakash Hegde who was recently expelled from Congress, was elected unanimously the president and BJP's Rajesh Kaveri was elected the vice-president.

The president's post for the eighth term in Kundapur town municipal council was reserved for backward class woman candidate and vice-president's post was reserved for the general category. In the council of 23 members, BJP has 12, Congress has 9 and CPM has 2 members.

As there was no backward class candidate in BJP, it lost the chance for a second time. However, Congress had several suited for the post, including Ravikala Ganesh Sherugar, Pushpa Shet, Vasanthi Mohan Saranga, Shakuntala Prakash and Jyothi Mogaveera. Out of them, Ravikala Ganesh Sherugar was the primary aspirant.

Vasanthi Mohan Saranga had requested the party to provide an opportunity to the Kharvi community. While Congress was preparing to support Ravikala, BJP decided to support Vasanthi Saranga who is identified with J P Hegde's group. She also got the support of Pushpa Shet, Shakuntala Prakash and Jyothi.

BJP took advantage of the situation and decided to support Hegde followers. With BJP's support, rebel Congress candidate became the president. 

In the elections held on Tuesday March 22, Shakuntala Gulwadi, Vasanthi Saranga and Ravikala Sherugar had submitted their nominations. 

Vasanthi and Ravikala had submitted two nominations each. As the other two candidates withdrew their nominations at the last moment, Congress rebel candidate Vasanthi was elected president unopposed. 

Rajesh Kaveri and Raviraj Kharvi had submitted nominations for the post of vice-president. Raviraj Kharvi withdrew the nominations in the end and Rajesh Kaveri was elected vice-president unopposed. As the nominations were withdrawn, except those in Hegde group, remaining Congress members walked out from the council with their party leaders.

MP Shobha Karandlaje, MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty, former taluk panchayat president Bhaskar Billava, BJP district vice-president Kiran Kodgi, fishermen cell convener B Kishore Kumar and others congratulated the new president and the vice-president. Tahsildar Gayatri Nayak conducted the elections. Senior BJP leaders Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Mattaru Rathnakar Hegde, Gururaj Gantihole, Sudheerkumar Shetty Markodu, Bhajrang Dal district leader Girish Kundapur, Santhosh Shetty and others were present.

'Lack of unity in Congress'

Newly-elected president Vasanthi Mohana Saranga said that she went against Congress inevitably due to lack of unity. "When I requested for an opportunity for our community, Shakuntala Prakash, Pushpa Shet and Jyothi sacrificed and supported me. I have got the post under the leadership of Jayaprakash Hegde and the guidance of MP Shobha Karandlaje and BJP leader Kishore Kumar," she said.

Everybody had thought that Kundapur TMC would go to Congress this time, but everything changed at the last moment. There were hints about it on Tuesday morning. Participation of MP Shobha Karandlaje and MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty was something special.

The statement of the council president that former MP Jayaprakash Hegde was silently involved in the council was proved. There was no clue of even a small group of Hegde supporters initially, and it came to light only on Tuesday. With J P Hegde supporters now having the upper hand, they have sent a strong message to the Congress.

Pushpa Shet and Shakuntala Gulwadi of Congress had said that they too were aspirants before the announcement of the official party candidate. Vasanthi Saranga, Pushpa Shet, Shakuntala Gulwadi and Jyothi had written to the tahsildar requesting her to recognize them as a separate group and arrange separate seats.

“The union government in the recent budget has set aside sufficient funds for the development of towns. Let the municipal council progress with the funds from the state and the centre. Summer has set foot, let there be good governance. Scarcity of water should be tackled. May the aim of the new president and the vice-president be to provide clean administration free from corruption," said, MP Shobha Karandlaje.