VIJAYAPURA: The disqualification of all 35 corporators of the Vijayapura City Corporation has created a flutter in the political circles.
On Monday, Belagavi Regional Commissioner Sanjay Shettennavar issued the order to disqualify the 35 members of the civic body. The disqualified members include 17 from BJP, 10 from Congress, one from JDS, two from AIMIM, and five Independents, all elected in 2022. It is reported that the action was taken after the elected corporators failed to declare their assets as per the norms.
Questions over non-submission of asset declarations prompted former corporators Prakash Mirji (BJP) and Mainuddin Bilagi (Congress) to approach the Kalaburagi bench of the Karnataka High Court seeking the disqualification of the 35 members.
Meanwhile, corporators are worried about their political future, as they are yet to complete their five-year term. They assumed office in January 2024, even though the election was held in 2022. According to the norms, the elected members should submit their property details within one month of taking charge.
In the case of present members, they took charge on January 9, 2024 and they should have declared the property details by February 8, 2024. The copy of the order, which is available with The New Indian Express, cites this as the chief reason for the disqualification of the corporators.
When contacted, the members of different parties said that they will not reply to their disqualification notice, unless they receive a certified copy of the order. “We came to know about our disqualification through the media. We have not received any copy so far. We do not know what is the exact reason cited for our disqualification,” said BJP corporator Shivarudra Bagalkot.
The Congress members, too, did not wish to talk about it without getting the official copy of the disqualification order. Independent corporator Vimala Khane, too, said that she is yet to receive the official order.
“We have started implementing development works in our wards recently after funds were granted. At this stage, disqualification is not a good decision for us and for the residents,” she said, and added that she will decide her next course of action only after receiving the order copy.