Some gram panchayats have threatened to boycott May 29 election as the headquarters of a few of them was changed during the reorganising process recently. For instance, headquarters of Varkodu GP was shifted from Varkodu village to Badagalahundi village during the reorganisation process, which was opposed by a group of Varakodu residents. “Why was the headquarters changed from Varakodu that has a population of around 2,000 to Badagalahundi with 800 to 1,000 residents?” is the question posed by the locals to the district authorities here.
Another reason for opposing the restructuring of GP headquarters was that Badagalahundi reportedly lacked basic amenities.
Some village leaders have protested against the change of headquarters and submitted memorandums to the district authorities, including the tahsildar, urging the authorities concerned to set right the ‘glaring glitch’.
According to unconfirmed reports, candidates contesting for six seats of the gram panchayat have withdrawn their nominations in protest while election to the other seats in the same GP will be held. “The headquarters of the GP was changed on the basis of its population,” clarified Additional Deputy Commissioner M.S. Archana.
She told The Hindu that she also learnt that some candidates had withdrawn their nominations but there is no official confirmation. “The tahsildar was actually asked to speak to the villagers when they raised objection to the shifting of the headquarters,” she added.
Ms. Archana said that no nominations had been filed for three seats in Agrahara constituency of Mookanahalli GP for the same reason – shifting of headquarters. In Agrahara constituency of Mookanahalli GP and Devarahalli constituency in Halebeedu GP in Hunsur taluk, no nominations have been filed for three seats. Two seats in Agrahara – one reserved for SC (general) and another general (women) and one seat in Devarahalli which is reserved for SC (general) – have not received nominations.
Agrahara was brought under Mookanahalli GP from Katte Malalawadi GP. Agrahara is 2 km from Katte Malalawadi GP and 15 km from Mookanahalli. Residents of Agrahara have threatened to boycott the May 29 election. They demanded that an administrative wing of Mookanahalli GP should be opened in Biligere, which is also about 2 km from Agrahara, if they have to participate in the election process.
Machabayanahalli residents also threatened to boycott the election but relented following assurances from the officials concerned that their issues would be addressed. They were unhappy that their village, which earlier came under Gavadagere GP, was shifted to Mullur GP.
