The lessons we learn: Gram Panchayat election results out

18.05.10 Mangalore : Panchayathi Raj was created for decentralization of Power from district level downwards to Grama, where people know each fairly well and development on basic necessities can be discussed, decided upon and implemented without trouble. There are no party lines involved, no party representatives elected and unanimous choice of GP to ZP is considered common and useful. Having said that, the recent GP elections on the West Coast (Karavali) districts have been generally partyless, but indirectly backed by parties, chiefly Congress (that ruled for decades) and the ruling BJP (in saddle for a couple of years now).

First, let us get to the unanimous choice results. There are 5 taluks in D.K and 3 in Udupi District.

Taking Mangalore taluk first, the number of GPs there is 39 with 938 seats in it, of which27 are returned unopposed. In Bantwal, there are 46 GPs with 804 seats and unopposed 30 seats. In Puttur, there are 37 GPs with 563 seats, unopposed 6 seats. In Belthangady, there are 41 GPs with 583 seats and 7 of them unopposed. Sullia has 27 GPs with 320 seats of which 19 are unopposed. This is the unalloyed picture of latest GP results in D.K district. The total unopposed members returned are in 89 seats out of 3208. The elected members after May 17 are 3119.

It is reported by authorities concerned that Congress has won in MSEZ area and in Mangalore taluk. SDPI, an outfit born out of Congress origins has secured 3 seats in minority areas of Christians but routed in Muslim areas. The Permude GP under Mudabidri constituency is secured by the Congress backed leaders. It comes under MSEZ jurisdiction, and several farmers have lost their lands. Congress had repeated its success here in 2010. Gregory Patrao of Kalavaru has won his BJP seat in the 3 out of 5 seats of Bala GP.

In Udupi district, GP voting was done in 2 phases, on May 8 and 12 (Kundapur). Counting of votes on May 17 went on till night hours and results were fully announced. There were no party symbols in ballot papers. Cut of total 143 GPs in Udupi district, Udupi taluk had 61 GPs, and 1033 seats. Karkala taluk had 29 GPs and 465 seats, while Kundapur in the north had 53 GPs and 828 seats. Thus total seats were 2323, of which 124 seats were returned unopposed (Udupi 51, Karkala nil and Kundapur 73). Elections were restricted to 2,199 GPs only. Totally 4,995 candidates were in contest. In Belapu and Maravanthe GPs seats had not been contested. Both Congress and BJP activists were saying that they had won enough seats to rule GPs. But the coastal region has history of community Development Projects since 1952 and Panchayati Raj without party symbols. A specific instance of winning a GP seat is reported from Amblamogaru, where Karunakar Poojary (214) is reported to have won by a single vote against Ramesh Poojary (213)In the same GP, another Congress supported candidate won by 2 votes only! BJP was the loser by 3 votes.