Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB/CLP)

Udupi, Aug 7: Savitha Shivanand Kotian of BJP was elected the president of Udupi zilla panchayat during the elections held here on Thursday August 7.

Prakash T Mendon, also of BJP, was elected the vice-president. 

The elections were conducted by Jayanthi, deputy commissioner Muddu Mohan and CEO Kanagavalli.

The 38-year-old Savitha Shivanand Kotian has been a BJP activist and won the zilla panchayat election from Belmon in 2005.

Addressing the press after the victory she said, "My first importance is to provide safe drinking water to people which is the need of the hour. I will also focus on construction of good roads."

She also said that the union government has reduced the powers of the president of zilla panchayat and also the funds.

When a question was raised by the media on how she plans to achieve her goals in her tenure of 17 months, she said, "I will do my best. I plan to start a zilla panchayat committee which will put more pressure on the goverment to meet the demands of the people."

Prakash T Mendon, aged 40, has won the election for the first time. He hails from Basrur. Speaking to the media, he said, "I am keen on improving areas like sanitation, health and education. I will make optimum use of the ZP funds to work towards the betterment of the district."