ZP members stage dharna against CEO

The members, cutting across party lines,  alleged that the Chief Executive Office Tulasi Maddineni has been showing disrespect to the elected representatives and not “responding” to the various development works.

Raising the issue during a meeting called by the Zilla Panchayat president, ZP members Prabhakar, Anand Ravi, Rangashamaiah, Devaraj, and Hanumanthaiah alleged that the Chief Executive Officer has been obstructing the progress of development works by not taking the elected representatives into confidence. Majority of the members demanded that the CEO should be sent on compulsory leave and even threatened to boycott the meeting if their demand was not met.

However, members Sudhakar Lal, Krishnappa and Vasantha Kumari, who intervened, said that a woman officer should not be ill-treated by sending her out from the meeting and suggested that she should be given an opportunity to mend her ways. The suggestion was vociferously opposed by other members and some launched a tirade against the Chief Executive Officer.

Allegations denied

The CEO, Tulasi Maddineni, however, claimed that she has not shown disrespect to any members and going on leave is her personal matter. Enraged by the reply, the meeting adopted a one-line resolution stating that they do not want this CEO and attempted to stage dharna. They also tried to lock the office of the Chief Executive Officer. However, the attempts were foiled with the intervention of the police.

Meanwhile, the reconciliation talks by Deputy Commissioner Dr C Somashekhar and Superintendent of Police Dr P S Harsha with each of the members went in vain as the members insisted that they would conduct the meeting only after the CEO is transferred.