Someshwar GP polls not to be boycotted this year

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Apr 28: District-in-charge Minister Krishna Palemar requested all political parties not to boycott the GP polls in Someshwar, Mangalore. Accordingly, the GP polls will not be boycotted; but the fight for the upgradation of Someshwar Gram Panchayat to Town Panchayat will continue. 

Someshwar GP is one of the largest GPs in Karnataka, second only to Malebennur GP in Harihara, Davanagere. It has 16 wards and 51 members. Moreover, its population is on the rise. The 2001 census results indicated that the population was 20,097 and the electorate comprises 18,500 people. The GP members are sure that the population has doubled by now. 

Sathish Kumpala, the secretary of the district BJP and former GP member, said that the party had decided to boycott the elections last week, but changed its mind because of Krishna J. Palemar’s appeal to political parties not to boycott the GP polls. The district-in-charge minister has agreed to release special grants to Someshwar GP, he said. 

Owing to the continuous boycott of the GP elections in Aug 2008 and Dec 2007, the Someshwar GP doesn’t have elected representatives and is administered by the GP secretary and an administrator for the past 3 years. 

Kumpala further explained the matter by saying that each GP gets a grant of Rs 5 lakh, which is insufficient for Someshwar GP, which has 51 members. Each member would get only Rs 9,804 for development work. If Someshwar GP is upgraded to Town Panchayat, it will have only 19 members and more funds for development work, he explained. He added that Someshwar GP needs Rs 1.25 lakh to pay its monthly electricity bills alone. For these reasons, upgradation is required, he said, adding that the political party will fight for it.