Former minister Srinivas Gowda has complained of irregularities in the election of the Muduvatti Gram Panchayat president and urged the Deputy Commissioner to declare the election illegal.
Speaking to the Deputy Commissioner D S Vishwanath at his office on Wednesday, Srinivas Gowda said of the 18 votes cast for the poll, Radhamma, supported by the JD(S), and Ashwatthamma, supported by District In-charge Minister Varthur Prakash’s faction, won nine votes each.
But, although the next move should have been selection through drawing, the tahsildar outrightly declared the candidate supported by Varthur the winner.
“Varthur has ‘purchased’ the tahsildar. The election too has not been conducted according to law,” said the former minister.
‘Selection final’
The Deputy Commissioner, who responded to the outburst, said a selection was final and could not be withdrawn or declared illegal. He advised Srinivas Gowda to take the matter to court.
M Govinde Gowda, JD(S) secretary, who spoke to Deccan Herald, said they would approach the court to fight the injustice meted out to their candidate.
Alarmed by the increasing levels of tension at the meeting, police arrived at the DC’s office to prevent untoward incidents.
‘No graft’
Varthur Prakash has, however, denied the allegations made by Srinivas Gowda, that he had ‘purchased’ the tahsildar into declaring Ashwatthamma, the candidate supported by his faction, the winner.
“It is true that blurring of the ink on the voting cards created problems to recognise the choice on the cards. The tahsildar and the election officer both analysed the matter and declared our candidate the winner,” he and insisted there had been no illegal activities in the election at Muduvatti Gram Panchayat.
“No officer at the Gram Panchayat is corrupt. The JD(S) members are only displaying their disappointment at losing the poll,” added Varthur.
Other results
Ratnamma has been elected the president of Kondarajanahalli GP, Vijayamma is the new vice-president. Anjinamma is the president of Chowdadenahalli GP, V M Ravikumar is the vice-president.
Sudha Rajanna was elected the president of Channasandra GP. A Raghukumar was elected vice-president of Dodda Hasala GP.