BJP petitions guv over disqualification of BCC corporators

Belagavi: The dispute between BJP MLA Abhay Patil and regional commissioner SB Shettennavar intensified following the disqualification of two BJP corporators of Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) over an ‘office of profit' complaint. Alleging political pressure behind the regional commissioner's order, the BJP has sought governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot's intervention.MLA Abhay Patil, along with Dharwad MLA Arvind Bellad, met the governor in his office on Friday and complained against the regional commissioner. They also submitted the related documents. According to MLA Patil, the governor responded positively and assured them of instructing the authorities concerned to act on it.Earlier, MLA Abhay Patil said he would also complain to the central govt against the alleged biased order against the two corporators. Condemning the statement of MLA Patil, Sujit Mulgund, the whistleblower, wrote a letter to the IAS Officers' Association, New Delhi, urging it to register their protest against Belagavi South MLA Abhay Patil for intimidating an IAS officer Shettennavar.Meanwhile, Shettennavar withheld the issuing of a mayoral election notification before validating his disqualification order at the council meeting. He instructed the BCC authorities to submit details of the voters' list, deducting the names of disqualified members. According to his instructions, validation of the disqualification of the two corporations should be validated by holding the council body meeting.The regional commissioner's instructions are said to put the BJP in a fix. As the term of the current mayor and deputy mayor ended on Feb 14, the ruling BJP wants the mayoral elections to be held at the earliest. However, for that, the ruling group is supposed to validate the disqualification of its members by holding the council meeting. Following the developments, uncertainty prevails over the date of mayoral elections.