Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Nov 2: Sulatha Hegde of BJP has been elected president of Saligrama town panchayat.
The election was held on Monday November 2. Though there were two reserved candidates in BJP, experienced Sulatha Hegde was unanimously selected as the candidate. Brahmavar tahsildar, Kiran Guarayya was the election officer.
BJP’s Anusuya Herle and Congress candidate Zahira Habib had filed nominations for the post of vice-president. The total strength was 16, with out of which BJP members were 10, Congress 5 and one independent. Anusuya Herle was elected vice-president.
The elections were held in the presence of Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty.
MP Shobha Karandlaje said that the top posts in the panchayat were reserved for women this time. "The elected president and vice-president should run the administration in a transparent manner, free from corruption. Let the development in the town pick up speed like in village panchayats."
Newly-elected president Sulatha said that she is determined to realize the dream of beautifying Saligrama. "I will develop the roads and the drainage system, and begin other new projects with the help of the local MLA and MP," she said.
Kundapur MLA Halady Srinivas Shetty said that the opinions of the opposition party members are equally important for development. Opposition party leader Srinivas Amin said that the development mantra of the elected leaders is just 'lip service'. "We have undertaken development with a package of Rs 2 crore during the previous government. The dream of developed Saligrama should become a reality this time," he said.
BJP Kundapur block president, Shanker Ankadakatte; former block president, Kadoor Suresh Shetty; district panchayat member, Srilatha Suresh Shetty; Brahmavar taluk panchayat president, Jyothi Uday Poojary; the party’s Kiran Kumar Kodgi, Suresh Shetty, Vasanth Kanchan, Madhava Karkada, Jayananda Poojary, Gunarathna Poojary, town panchayat members and others were present.