The publication of a draft notification on reservation for the posts of zilla panchayat president and vice-president has resulted in leaders of all three major political parties — the Congress, BJP and the JD(S) — weighing various political options to capture the 10 ZPs where no party has got a clear majority.
With final notification to be issued on April 15, pressure is mounting on the government from all quarters — including from some religious heads — to change the quota again.
Horse-trading charge
The Opposition has alleged that the announcement of the list was delayed to allow the Congress to indulge in horse-trading. The Congress emerged as the single largest party only in four ZPs — Kolar, Belagavi, Mysuru, and Yadgir. The Opposition JD(S) and BJP have been eyeing the chiefs’ posts by reaching out to each other and seeking the support of Independents to secure power in ZPs such as Mysuru, Kolar, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Shivamogga, and Dharwad.
Meanwhile, the draft notification has left family members of prominent politicians of the Opposition parties, who have been making efforts to grab the president’s post, disappointed as the posts have been reserved for different categories.
In Hassan, accusing the Congress of misusing power where the JD(S) has won 23 seats in the 40-member ZP, JD(S) leader H.D. Revanna alleged that the president’s post had been reserved for ST (woman) to “suit the Congress”. Shwetha Devaraj is the only candidate from ST (woman) who won from the Congress. Mr. Revanna’s wife, Bhavani, was the main aspirant for the president’s post.
He has threatened that the JD (S) would sever ties with the Congress in the BBMP council if it does not change the quota in the district.
In Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district of Mysuru, the possibility of a JD(S)-BJP tie-up seems strong as both the parties want to deprive the Congress of power. The president’s post is reserved for the BCM ‘A’ category and the vice-president’s post for general category. Here, the BJP does not have any member from the BCM ‘A’ category and hence the JD(S) may continue the alliance with a quid pro quo with the BJP by offering it the vice-president’s post.
Shivamoga ZP
With the post of Shivamoga ZP president reserved for general category woman and that of vice-president of OBC (‘B’ woman), K.E. Kanthesh, son of BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa, and Kagodu Annappa, nephew of Legislative Assembly Speaker Kagodu Thimmappa, who had eyed the coveted posts, have been left disappointed.
In Dharwad
In the Dharwad ZP, where BJP is short of one member and Congress short of two to come to power, everything depends on the Independent candidate Shivanand Karigar’s decision. With the post of president reserved for general (woman) and vice-president for backward classes (A), Mr. Karigar can become the vice-president if he decides to go with the BJP.
The muddle
H.D. Revanna threatens to sever ties with Congress in BBMP if govt. fails to change quota in Hassan
Draft notification sets aside presidents’ posts in 15 ZPs in general category
14 ZP president’s posts reserved for women of all categories
Final notification to be issued on April 15
The muddle
H.D. Revanna threatens to sever ties with Congress in BBMP if govt. fails to change quota in Hassan
Draft notification sets aside president posts in 15 ZPs in general category
14 ZP president posts reserved for women of all categories
Final notification to be issued on April 15
