Largest local body in region not to boycott GP polls

Population of GP in 2001 was 20,097 with 18,500 voters

However, the members will continue to fight for the upgradation of the Gram Panchayat to Town Panchayat.

 Someshwar Gram Panchayat is considered as the second largest Gram Panchayat in the State next to Malebennur Gram Panchayat in Harihara of Davangere. The GP has 16 wards and 51 members. The population of the region is also increasing day-by-day.
According to 2001 census, the population was 20,097 and the total number of voters approximately was 18,500. Now the population would have definitely doubled, feel former GP members.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, District BJP Secretary Sathish Kumpala, who was also former GP member, said “last week, an all party meeting had decided to boycott the election. However, later, District-in-Charge Minister Krishna Palemar convened a meeting of all party members and appealed not to boycott the elections. He also assured to release special grants to Someshwar Gram Panchayat for carrying out developmental works.”
“On the request of Palemar, all of us have decided not to boycott the elections and the process of filing nominations have begun. We do not want to take away the rights of the people of electing their representatives, by boycotting the election.”

It may be recalled that demanding the upgradation of the Gram Panchayat to Town Panchayat, the elected members of the Panchayat unanimously boycotted the election in August 2008 and December 20, 2007. Owing to the boycott of the election, the Gram Panchayat does not have elected representatives and is administered by the Gram Panchayat Secretary and an administrator for the last three years.

Kumpala said “the Gram Panchayat gets grant of Rs 5 lakh. However, the amount is meagre to carry out any development works. With Rs 5 lakh, each member was getting only Rs 9,804. With this much money, what development works can be undertaken.
Moreover, people have great expectation from their elected representatives.”  With the
upgradation of the Gram Panchayat, the Town Panchayat will have only 19 members and the availability of funds for development works will be more.

In fact, the Court had directed the department concerned to upgrade the Gram Panchayat to Town Panchayat. Town Development Authority had also sent a proposal to the government on the upgradation of the Gram Panchayat to Town Panchayat.  He said the Zilla Panchayat has dug two borewells in the GP limits to supply water. However, the GP does not have funds to take electricity connection to the borewell.  Kumpala said the GP requires around Rs 1.25 lakh for paying electricity bills to MESCOM monthly. “The GP has to pay Rs 60 lakh to 70 lakh to Mescom. In such a situation, the upgradation is a necessity and we will all fight for it. ”