In a contest that was keenly fought within and outside the party, Congress member Bharatbai Mallinath Sherikar was elected president and Prakash Patil was elected vice-president of the Bidar zilla panchayat in Bidar on Monday. The president’s post was reserved for Scheduled Tribes (woman) while the vice-president’s post was unreserved.
The duo defeated Nirmalabai Manthala and Anil Gundappa of the BJP. The house of 34 has 19 Congress members, 11 BJP, three JD(S) and one independent. Three JD(S) members supported the Congress candidates who got 22 votes while the lone independent supported the BJP, that got 12 votes in all.
Ms. Bharatbai, who represents Kodambal constituency, has been elected twice to the rural local body. She will enjoy the privileges of a Minister of State for five years. Mr. Patil, who has a doctoral degree in agriculture, is a successful flower cultivator from Ghat Boral village in Humnabad taluk.
After the categories were announced, the contest had narrowed down to Geetha Pandit Chidri, wife of Pandit Chidri, chairman of the Karnataka State Sheep and Wool Development Corporation, and Ms. Bharatbai. The latter emerged the winner after Congress observers Allamprabhu Patil and Minister Umashree came to a conclusion by Sunday evening. This was communicated to all the members before they cast their votes.
Amlan Aditya Biswas, Regional Commissioner, announced the names of the winners.
