Bagalkot: The Congress party has fielded candidates in all the Lok Sabha constituencies but the resignation of the Zilla Panchayat president here in North Karnataka has created a dispute among the state leaders.
Veena Kashappanavar has completed her three year term as the ZP president and while some panchayat members want her to continue as the President, others want her to resign.
District In-charge Minister Shivanand Patil had convened a meeting on the issue. However, six dissatisfied members including former minister H Y Meti and his daughter Bayakka Meti did not attend the meeting.
To sort out the issue former chief minister Siddaramaiah had called for a meeting at his residence in Bangalore on Friday, February 2.
Veena Kashappanavar has already declared that she is ready to resign if the state leaders want her to.
“I am aspiring for a ticket for Lok Sabha elections. Siddaramaiah has advised me to resign from the ZP president post and I am committed to follow the decision of senior party leaders,” Kashappanavar said.
“In the 36-member Bagalkot Zilla Panchayat, Congress has 17 candidates, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 18 and 1 candidate is independent. Veena Kashappanavar was previously appointed as ZP president through political tactics and the support of an independent candidate. However, if Veena Kashyapnavar resigns from the President post, the BJP might try to take over ZP and we will not allow this to happen,” said Shivanand Patil.
