Ravi Kushalappa, Kaveri elected as ZP Chief, deputy

President seeks co-operation for development of district

The term will be for a period of 20 months. The election to the post of Zilla Panchayat President was held at Old Fort hall on Monday.

Only Ravi Kushalappa and H M Kaveri had filed their nominations for the post of President and Vice President respectively. Mysore Regional Commissioner M V Jayanthi was the election officer.

For the first time in the history, the BJP has come to power in Kodagu district.
There are 29 seats in Kodagu Zilla Panchayat. Of which, 21 seats have been won by the BJP. Without the opposition, the BJP could come to power without any problem. The term will conclude on October 6, 2012.

The post of President was given to Madikeri taluk while the post of vice-president was given to the Virajpet taluk. The post of President was reserved for General category and the vice president was reserved for SC (Woman).

Ravi Kushalappa was elected to Zilla Panchayat from Makkandur constituency while H M Kaveri was elected from Ammathi constituency.

Ravi Kushalappa is a close associate of Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah. He was Makkandur Mandala pradhana in the past.  He had also served as Madikeri taluk BJP President and Akrama Sakrama committee president.

Speaking with mediapersons, Ravi Kushalappa said that he will make an effort to develop Kodagu district as a model district in the state.  He said “the Zilla Panchayat receives crores of rupess fund from the state government. The support of all the members are essential for the implementation of the government programmes effectively.”

He called upon the members to forget the party differences and work for the development of the district.

The members of the backward community, farmers and labourers have high expectations from the newly elected Zilla Panchayat. There is a need to put an end to the corruption in the district, he added.

Ravi Kushalappa said “I hail from a agriculture family and has worked as Makkandur Mandala President in 1987. I have knowledge on the problems being faced by the people of the district. There is a need to solve the problems over bad roads and drinking water woes.”

He said “there is no question of switching off my mobile phone. I will work 24X7 for the welfare of the people. I will work impartially,” he assured.  Zilla Panchayat Vice-President H M Kaveri said that she will give priority to drinking water, development of roads and other facilities.

Deputy Commissioner K H Ashwathnarayana Gowda, Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah, MLA M P Appachu Ranjan and others wished the newly elected President and Vice-President.