Zilla Panchayat member from Masur constituency S.K. Kariyannavar of the Congress was on Thursday elected unopposed as the new president of the Haveri Zilla Panchayat for the remaining term of the elected body.
Regional Commissioner P.A. Mebhannavar officiated the election process and declared Mr. Kariyannavar elected unopposed after the completion of the formal procedure. The election was necessitated following the resignation of Kotreshappa Baseganni who was the panchayat president hitherto.
During the stipulated time for filing nomination papers to the post of the president of the zilla panchayat, which was reserved for General category, three nomination papers were filed. While BJP member from Negalur constituency Siddaraj Kalakoti filed two sets of nomination papers, Mr. Kariyannavar filed one set.
After initiating the election procedure, the Regional Commissioner announced that all three sets of nomination papers had been accepted and gave 10 minutes for the withdrawal of nomination papers. Mr. Kalakoti withdrew his nomination papers in the last minute facilitating the unopposed election of his opponent. Of the total 34 zilla panchayat members, four were absent. While the Congress has 22 members, the BJP has 12 in the Haveri Zilla Panchayat.
Mr. Meghannavar subsequently made the formal announcement of Mr. Kariyannavar’s election as panchayat president.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shantha Hulmani assisted him as Assistant Election Officer. Deputy Commissioner of Haveri M.V. Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat Shilpa Nag were present.
Earlier, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and district in-charge Zameer Ahmed Khan, MLA B.C. Patil, the former Minister Rudrappa Lamani and other Congress leaders held a meeting with Congress members before finalising the name of Mr. Kariyannavar as the candidate for the post. Soon after the election of Mr. Kariyannavar, his followers and Congress members celebrated his victory.
