BJP objects to official’s procedure

Mangalore Today News Network

MANGALURU: Mangaluru City North assembly unit of BJP has objected  to the move by the administrative officer of Gurupura  gram panchayat in Mangaluru taluk asking its newly elected members to submit nomination afresh for the posts of president and vice-president.

The officer cancelled the election meeting scheduled for July 13, citing lack of quorum even as two candidates - Shobha P and Mohammad Sadiq - submitted their nominations and they were found valid.   Contending that the quorum does not apply for an election meeting as per Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act, former minister and president of the unit J Krishna Palemar said that the move by the administrator in deferring the meeting, citing lack of quorum, is not legal.  Besides, there is no provision in the Act for the election officer to ask candidates to submit nominations for the posts afresh. Since only two nominations were filed, they should be declared elected.

Noting that the Congress-backed GP members boycotted election meeting despite having the numbers and a suitable candidate on their side merely because they were not happy with the post of president being reserved for general (woman) candidate, Palemar said that DK DC  A B Ibrahim had also rejected their request for change in the reservation. The administrator,  has signed a fresh order fixing  July 23 for  the election meeting.

The administrator has also directed members to file their nominations afresh for the above posts on that day, the former minister said. Stating that he has orally informed the DC about this move by the administrator, Palemar said that if the DC does not initiate action to stop the July 23 meeting and accept nominations filed by Shobha and Sadiq for the respective posts, the party will fight it out legally to ensure justice.