Use party symbols for GP polls: Datta

Casting his vote at Yagati village on Wednesday, he told the reporters that earlier the Mandal Panchayat elections were held using political party symbols. Later, the Congress party divided local governing bodies into Gram Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat and started holding election for Taluk Panchayat and Zilla Panchayat on basis of party symbols and kept GP out of political fold. Due to this, Datta said that election is being held ‘apolitically’ for namesake.

 “The fact is that GP elections are held completely by political parties. Political leaders play a major role during elections. Hence, it is better election is held on political party symbol basis,” he said and added that in states like Kerala and Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Presidents are elected directly. All party discussion should be held to bring in this system in Karnataka too.