After month’s of hearing of the writ petition filed by then Mayor Purushotham and Congress party, Regional Commissioner V Jayanthi passed an order disqualifying six corporators - Somashekar (Ward 29), Nanda Kumar (Ward 43), Nigar Sultana ( Ward 45), Farida Begum (Ward 46), Mahadevamma (Ward 50) and Vanitha Prasanna (Ward 65).
All the six corporators remained absent from the Mayoral elections despite the Congress party issuing a whip asking its members to be present.
Mayor Purushotham and the Congress party had filed a writ petition accusing these members of indulging in defection to favour the BJP before the Regional Commissioner’s court in April 2010.
More to happen?
Interestingly, there are possibilities of further disqualifications in the offing. The Court is also hearing a case filed by the Janatha Dal (secular) seeking disqualifying eight of its members for anti-party activities and defection.
Eight JD (S) corporators, former mayor C Srikantaiah, R Lingappa, K V Mallesh, T Devaraj, Kempanna, Prabhu Murthy, Lakshmamma and Mahadevamma openly identified themselves with the BJP after the ‘operation lotus’ ahead of the mayoral polls in 2010.
These members also remained abstained from the elections and did not vote for the JD(S) candidate.
Judgment
Sources said the Regional Commissioner’s court is expect to deliver the judgment in the case within a week as Regional Commissioner Jayanthi would be leaving to West Bengal on observer’s duty for elections there.
Cong strength down
With the Monday’s disqualification, the total strength of the Congress party has dwindled to 16 seats from a total of 22 so far. While, the number of BJP members remains 16 and JD (S) has 18 corporators in the council.
Interestingly, the corporation council will go for mayoral elections in April this year as the term of Mayor Sandesh Swamy ends in the month of March. It would be interesting to watch the developments in the coming days as the case of eight JD (S) draws to a close.
A lesson to defectors
Reacting to the disqualification of its members, City Congress president C Dasegowda said that it was a lesson for the defectors. “The members prefered money over their duty. These orders should teach a lesson to them and also serve as warning to members with a tendency for dishonesty,” he said.
Meanwhile, the disqualified corporators are mulling over moving the court against the order.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks