Date:05/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/05/stories/2006110503810300.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Election put off

Staff Correspondent

Bidar: The election of the new president of the BJP district unit was inconclusive in Bidar on Saturday, as the workers and leaders failed to reach a consensus.

The district unit has now authorised State president D.V. Sadananda Gowda to choose a new president.

Dissidence erupted in the meeting held under the supervision of a team of election officers sent by the State unit. The team members MLCs Shobha Karandlaje, Shashil Namoshi and State Kisan Morcha president S. Nimbannanavar, tried to convince all the groups in the district unit to agree on a unanimous candidate. They spoke separately to all groups and also addressed a meeting of all groups. This effort went on for hours, but failed to produce any result.

When the meeting began, seven leaders submitted their nominations. They included former MLA Narayanrao Mannalli, former district president Subhash Kallur, Zilla Panchayat member Rajshekar Nag Murthy, and other leaders such as Babu Wali, Ashok Guttedar, Shivraj Gandage, and Basavaraj Arya.

The observers suggested that the workers choose an unanimous candidate, which did not happen.

Later, the observers asked the district unit to authorise Mr. Sadananda Gowda to decide on the district president.