The Congress, which suffered a set-back in the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat, has managed to come to power in the Dharwad Taluk Panchayat and also, bagged the president’s post in the Hubballi Taluk Panchayat, though it lost the vice-president’s post there.
Congress member from Hebballi Taluk Panchayat constituency Mallappa Mugappa Bhavikatti bagged the panchayat president’s post, which was reserved for general candidate.
Being the lone candidate for the vice-president’s post (reserved for Scheduled Tribes) Mutthappa Naikar from Mummigatti Taluk Panchayat constituency was elected unopposed.
In the 24-member Dharwad Taluk Panchayat, Congress is the single largest party with 11 seats followed by the BJP with eight seats and the Janata Dal(S) with one seat. There are four Independents.
Mr. Mallappa, who received the support of all the four Independents and also from the Janata Dal(S) member, secured 16 votes against eight by BJP candidate Hanumanthappa B. Koyappanavar who is from Yadwad Taluk Panchayat constituency.
Assistant Commissioner Chandrashekar Nayak officiated as Election Officer.
Hubballi TP
The Congress managed to bag the president’s post in the Hubballi Taluk Panchayat unopposed as the party’s Channamma Gorla was the lone Scheduled Castes candidate (the post has been reserved for this category).
However, it could not secure the vice-president’s post (General Category) in the 15-member taluk panchayat as the lone independent member from Byahatti Taluk Panchayat Constituency Saroja Alagawadi got the support of the BJP.
The BJP is the single largest party with seven members followed by the Congress with five members and the Janata Dal(S) with two members.
Efforts to get the support of the Independent candidate continued till Tuesday morning, and BJP leaders, including district rural unit president M.R. Patil, the former MLAs S.I. Chikkanagoudra and Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, managed to win over Ms. Saroja Alagawadi by offering her the vice-president’s post. Janata Dal(S) member from Ingalahalli Taluk Panchayat constituency Basappa Birannavar secured seven votes.
Hubballi Tahsildar H.D. Nagavi officiated as election officer.
