Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/SP)

Udupi, Oct 22: There are indications that the long wait of the people's representatives of municipalities will come to an end soon. The elected representatives are hopeful that they will be able to wield power now onward. This hope has been kindled by the fact that the state high court has given the go ahead for holding elections to the posts of the presidents and vice presidents for all the 59 municipalities in Karnataka. The division bench of the high court, when vacating the interim stay issued by the single judge bench, has ordered that the elections should be held before November 2.

After the single judge bench stayed the election, the spirits of the elected municipal councillors had been dampened. But now the order passed by the division bench has rekindled hope among them.

Udupi municipal office (file photo)

The coalition government of the Congress and the JD(S) had issued notification on September 3, 2018 to hold this election. By the time the legal scuffle on the issue was about to end, a stay was issued to the same on October 15. However, the division bench has vacated this stay and paved way for holding the election

It has already been two years since the people's representatives were elected. However, they have not been able to elect presidents and vice presidents. The delay was mainly caused by the act of the government in changing the reservation criteria of some bodies and appeals filed by several persons against it.

The post of the Udupi municipal president had been earmarked for woman candidate from backward A category while that of the vice president was reserved for general category woman candidates. At present, the district deputy commissioner, G Jagadeesha, functions as the administrative officer of the municipality here. But the problem is borne out of the fact that other officials are not well versed with the grass root level problems unlike people's representatives. The elected representatives were unable to do anything. They were not able to undertake any development works as their term begins the day the oath is administered. The elected members are unhappy that two years have been wasted.

As there are no people's representatives, the people are dependent on officers and staff for everything. When the officials follow their usual habit of procrastination, the people go to their area representatives but they were not effective till now.

Out of 35 wards in Udupi, 31 have been bagged by the BJP and the remaining four are with the Congress. The district has three town municipalities, a city municipality and a town panchayat.