Its almost confirmed, BJP to rule Madikeri CMC

Missing members appear before media, election on January 22

As members P R Manjula and Lata Bangera appeared before the media in the presence of BJP State Committee Member M P Sunil Subramani, it has been confirmed that the BJP will secure power in the election to be held on January 22 for the post of City Municipal Council President and the Vice-President.

Lata Bangera, P R Manjula and independent candidate Prathibha Shetty were not present on December 22, when election was conducted for the CMC chiefs’ posts. BJP members had accused the Congress and the JD(S) leaders of kidnapping members, who were absent on the day. Moreover, BJP members had created ruckus and also had gone to the extent of destroying the nomination papers in front of the election officer.

Following this, the election was postponed to January 10. Out of the three members, only Prathibha Shetty was present on January 10. However, due to some legal complications with regard to the scrutiny of the nomination papers, Election Officer Dr M R Ravi had postponed the election to January 22.

‘Cong-JD(S) plot’

Addressing a press conference, Sunil Subramani alleged that the Congress and the JD(S) had hatched a conspiracy to tarnish the image of the BJP. “The government had released sufficient funds for the municipality. Several development works were taken up by the municipality when P D Ponnappa was the president,” he said adding that the dreams of Congress and JD(S) leaders will not be materialised.

“Lata Bangera and P R Manjula had won as BJP candidates and they will be in the party in future too. The question of members leaving the party does not arise at all,” Subramani asserted. Clarifying the doubts regarding Lata Bangera and Manjula’s absence, Subramani siad, “members, who were anguish over the media reports following the postponement of election, had gone to Mantralaya on a pilgrimage.”

Subramani said that more leaders from other parties will be joining the BJP in the days to come. However, he refuse to reveal the names of the leaders, who are willing to join the BJP.

Though Lata Bangera spoke at the press conference, Manjula was tightlipped and Subramani was seen answering all questions shot by reporters at her. Altogether, it has been confirmed that the BJP will bag the posts of President and Vice-President in the municipality in the election. However, people will have to wait till January 22 to know the new political developments and the outcome.

H B Vijayakumar and Vasantha Keshava are the candidates for the posts of President and Vice-President respectively from the BJP. Meanwhile, the Congress - JD(S) coalition has fielded H M Nandakumar for the post of President and Chitra Devaraj of BSP for the deputy’s post.

With the appearance of two members and with the support of Congress member K G Harish and MLA M P Appachuranjan, the BJP’s strength has gone upto 18 while the tally of Congress-JD(S) has remained at 17 including the votes of MLAs M C Nanaiah and T John.

As of now, it appears that the BJP would secure power in the CMC.