With only a few days left for the elections to the top two posts in the Chitradurga Zilla Panchayat, aspirants in the Congress and their supporters are busy lobbying for the posts by appeasing the leaders and the high command. The zilla panchayat president post in the district is reserved for general category woman candidate and the vice-president seat is reserved for Scheduled Castes candidate. The elections would be held on May 4.
The zilla panchayat has 37 seats of which 23 have been won by the Congress, 10 by the BJP, two by the Janata Dal (Secular) and there are two Independent candidates.
Since the Congress has a clear majority, its candidate would be the panchayat president. The Congress candidate from Doddasiddavvanhalli zilla panchayat seat Soubhagya Basavarajan, wife of the former MLA S.K. Basavarajan, is a strong contender for the post. As Ms. Soubhagya Basavarajan served as president of the zilla panchayat a few years ago, the Congress is in favour of fielding her for the post. Meanwhile, Yogish Babu of B.G. Kere ZP constituency has emerged as a strong contender for the vice-president post.
Though other women candidates of the general category are keen on becoming president of the zilla panchayat, the Congress seems to be keen on fielding Ms. Soubhagya Basavarajan keeping in view the future political calculations and benefit in the coming Assembly elections. But the other aspirants, including Vishalakshi Nataraj of Bagur zilla panchayat constituency in Hosadurga, is also lobbying for the president post.
Since Mr. Yogish Babu is the only candidate who won from the State Youth Congress wing, the party high command is keen on giving him an opportunity. Taluk zilla panchayat constituency candidate Obalesh is also a contender for the post.
However, Minister for Social Welfare and district in-charge H. Anjaneya has said that a meeting of MLAs will be convened to discuss the issue. KPCC observer M.D. Lakshminarayana will visit the district on May 3 to discuss the issue and may issue a whip to the party members.
