Udupi: BJP’s Upendra Nayak elected as Prez & Rebellion Mamata R Shetty as VP in Zilla Panchayat Poll
By Snehalatha, Udupi
Bellevision Media Network
Udupi, 05 Jan 2013: BJP member Upendra Nayak was elected as president and BJP rebellion Mamata R Shetty Haddoor was elected as vice president of zilla panchayat, during the polls held here on Friday January 4.
Despite Congress had no majority; it faced disgrace since it tried in vain to take advantage of BJP’s inner-struggle by taking the issue at High Court.
The zilla panchayat has strength of 35 members, while 34 members participated in the polls. The president-elect BJP’s Upendra Nayak secured 15 votes and his opponent Congress representative Divakar Kundar secured 9 votes. The vice president-elect Mamata secured 15 votes and her opponent Congress representative Supreeta Deepak Shetty secured 9 votes.
The rebellions in VJP seemed co-operative in the polls, while rebellion candidate Babu Shetty and Prakash Mendon, who submitted nominations for president’s post, withdrew their candidature, thereby favouring Upendra Nayak to contest free.
In a co-ordinated move BJP let rebellions to contest for vice president’s post. BJP candidate Indira Shetty withdrew her nomination paving the way for rebellion candidate Mamata Shetty to contest free.
BJP rebellion Sunita Rajaram was absent for the polls due to her son’s sickness.
Mysore division commissioner Jayanti was the nodal officer during the polls.
Deputy Commissioner Dr M T Reju and zilla panchayat chief executive officer Prabhakar Sharma conducted the proceedings.
BJP Boycotted earlier polls
The polls were scheduled to be held on October 4 2012. It was a time BJP’s Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty tendered resignation for the post of MLA, since he was denied ministerial berth in the assembly by BJP-led state administration. The rebellion 8 BJP members who were supporters of Halady Srinivas Shetty submitted nomination papers for the polls.
As a result, BJP who enjoyed majority of 16 seats out of the total strength of 35, reduced to 8. Congress had 9 seats, when BJP’s 8 members and rebellion 8 members remained during the extraordinary general body meeting, faced the quorum that led to postponing the polls. Congress was successful in derailing BJP’s plans to come to power.
Congress filed a petition at High Court stating that it has the majority and no need for quorum for the meeting, which High Court order to hold the polls that were withheld since last. Accordingly the polls were held on Friday January 4.