In a dramatic development that took place on Saturday, JD(S) candidate K P Sucharitha Shetty ascended to the president post of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat with the additional support of one senior Congress member, thus defeating Abdul Aziz Malar of the same party by one vote. Meanwhile, BJP candidate Jayashri Kodandur was unanimously elected as the vice-president.

Much suspense had been prevailing among the parties as who would become the president, as consensus had not been drawn on the post between Sucharitha Shetty (Puttige) and Abdul Aziz Malar (Konaje). While, one troupe in JD(S) wanted Mr Shetty as the president, while the second wanted Mr Malar to become the president.

Both troupes had their own plans for the victory of ‘their candidate’, but ambiguities had not been cleared till the eleventh hour.

After formalities, the Election Officer G M Dhananjaya continued the proceedings by asking the members to raise their hands who support the candidature of Mr Shetty for the president’s post.

It was to the surprise of all, senior Congress member K Santhosh Bhandary raised his hand, besides 15 BJP members and 2 JD(S) members, this making the total votes 18.

A total of 14 Congress members voted against Mr Shetty, while 3 JD(S) members P Dharanendra Kumar, Babu Mogera Ernodi and Abdul Aziz Malar remained neutral. The other candidate for the presidential post, Mr Malar got only 17 votes in his favour. Though Chandrashekhara Kamat (Bellare) from Congress contested, he withdrew his paper.

Jayashri Kodandur representing Mani constituency was elected as the vice-president unanimously as there was no other contestants. The election process completed in a very short span of 40 minutes, with the presence of Deputy Commissioner M Maheshwar Rao and ZP Chief Executive Officer A M Kunjappa.

SET BACK TO DCC PRESIDENT?

Congress members K Santhosh Kumar Bhandary representing Sangabettu constituency is now the centre of attraction, after he supported the JD(S)-BJP coalition candidate for the president’s post. The development is said to be a major setback to the newly appointed DCC President B Ramanath Rai.

However, much suspense still prevails as what consequences Mr Bhandary should face from his party leaders in the days to come. Despite, Mr Bhandary feels that nothing will happen to his position in the party due to the Saturday’s development.

“I am a committed member of Congress for the past 32 years. Even my father was a Congress member who was a Bantwal taluk Board President,” he told media persons after the proceedings.

However, he said, he voted for Sucharitha Shetty disappointed by the “dirty politics” within his party. “Mr Malar, who played tricks for the fall of Mamatha Gatti, now tried to become the president with the help of Congress members, which I did not tolerate,” he said.

Mr Bhandary said the party could not take any disciplinary actions against him as there was no whip as no Congress candidate was in fray.