Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Aug 20: It has been two years since election to urban local bodies was held in the state. But so far the elected representatives have been deprived of the right to enjoy their powers.

Election was held to 29 city municipalities, 53 town municipalities and 20 town panchayats on August 31, 2018. Election was also held to 61 urban local bodies on May 29 last year. It has been a long wait for the elected representatives as election to the posts of presidents and vice presidents have not been held so far.

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In the election to Ullal municipality held two years back, Congress had emerged as the front runner by bagging 13 out of 31 seats, leaving six seats to the BJP and four to the JD(S). Out of 27 seats in Bantwal municipality, 11 went to the BJP, 12 to the Congress and four to the SDPI. Out of 25 wards in Puttur municipality, 25 had gone to the BJP. In Karkala, both the Congress and the BJP had secured 11 seats each with the other lone seat going to an independent. Out of 23 seats in Kundapur municipality, 14 had gone to the BJP.

The government had facilitated holding of the election by announcing list of reservations for the posts of the presidents and vice presidents of the urban local bodies two to three times, but some members always approached the court and brought stay order. Out of five years term of the urban bodies, two years have been whiled away without the election of the president and his deputy. None of the elected members have been administered oath of office and hence legally they are not recognized as people's representatives.

The administrative officers who run the urban bodies have the right to convene meetings of elected members but they have not convened any such meetings. During the past six months, the government officials are busy managing the corona situation and hence there is no hope for an early solution for the problem for now.