Polls to Madikeri CMC chiefs' posts today

The election to the post of Madikeri CMC President and Vice-President will be held on Saturday. By all means, H M Nandakumar who was a Congress candidate and who had joined the BJP recently will be elected as the President. There are two contenders for the post of Vice-President—Keshav and Shivkumari.

Nomination papers will be received between 9 am and 11 am. A special meeting has been convened at the Council Hall at 11 am.

Nominations will be scrutinised between 11 am and 11.15 am. Nominations can be withdrawn between 11.15 am and 11.30 am. The election will be held at 11.30 am. The members have to raise their hand to elect the president and vice-president.

Ban orders

To avoid any untoward incidents during the election and to maintain law and order in Madikeri, Deputy Commissioner has clamped Section 144 in Madikeri town between 7 am and 5 pm. It may be recalled that the election to the post of CMC President and Vice-President which was scheduled to be held on December 22 was postponed following the ruckus created by the BJP CMC members. The election to the post of President and Vice-President was cancelled on January 10.

Majority for BJP

With the support of Congress member K G Harish, JD(S) member Ashraf, Ashrafunnisa, SP member Khathija, the BJP will come to power with clear majority. With all the BJP members, MLA M P Appachurajan’s vote, the BJP is likley to get 22 to 23 votes.

Inspite of fielding the candidates for the post of President and Vice-President, the JD(S)-Congress alliance will not get majority to gain power. In this background, the JD(S)-Congress alliance are in a confusion whether to field the candidate or not.

Congress candidate Dhanalakshmi is likely to file nomination from JD(S)-Congress alliance. In the meantime, the members Chitra Devaraj and K T Baby Mathew have decided to remain neutral, said sources.