In a dramatic twist Hasan Shaikh Ahmed elected as the President of the Manipura Grama Panchayat

Report and Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 26 June 2010: The election to the post of President of the Manipura Grama Panchayat was quite dramatic and unique. The election process for the post of the President and Vice president of the Manipura Grama Panchayat  was held on Saturday, 26th June 2010 at 2 pm and result was declared by 2.30 pm. The election of the President had all the elements of surprise, anxiety and dramatic twist.

In the 16 member Manipura Grama Panchayat, two candidates contested for the post of the President. These candidates were Hasan Shaikh Ahmed and Karunakara Karkera. The polling officer was Dr. Shankar Shetty, Assistant Director of Veterinary Hospital, Udupi. He was accompanied by Mr. Pravin who is the Panchayat Development Officer. 

Soon after all the 16 elected members of the Manipura Grama Panchayat cast their votes for the election of the President by 2.15 pm, counting of the votes was immediately taken up. To everybody’s surprise and astonishment both the candidates-Hasan Shaikh Ahmed and Karunakara Karkera polled 8 votes each, thus resulting in a tie.

There was high voltage drama and anxiety as to how to resolve this issue. Eventually, it was Mr. Pravin, the Panchayat Development Officer who suggested the lot system to decide the winner. The names of both the contestants were written on two chits and were nicely folded. Mr. Pravin then placed the folded chits on the table and picked one of them when everyone present held his breath. The lady luck smiled on Hasan Shaikh Ahmed as his name was written in the chit that was picked up first by Mr. Pravin and he was duly declared as the winner of the post of the President of the Manipura Grama Panchayat.

Hasan Shaikh Ahmed-President     Mrs. Nalini-Vice President

As there was no rival contender for the post of Vice President, the lone candidate Mrs. Nalini was declared elected as unopposed.