Mangaluru: The suspension of two panchayat officials in Dakshina Kannada by the Congress-led Government has sparked a contentious debate, with the BJP MLA of Moodabidri, Umanath Kotian, taking a firm stand against the decision.
The MLA has called for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to take action against the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada, Mullai Muhilan, and revoke the suspension of the Executive Officer (EO) and Panchayat Development Officer (PDO).
The incident, which revolves around the omission of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Priyank Kharge’s name from an invitation card, has brought to the fore questions about protocol, political motivations, and the Government’s handling of local governance.
The Omission Controversy
The controversy unfolded during a Karnataka Development Programme meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mangaluru, where the absence of Junior Kharge’s name from the invitation card for the inauguration of the Iruvail Gram Panchayat building came to light.
In response to MLA Kotian’s demands, the Chief Minister pledged a thorough investigation into the matter. However, the suspension of Moodabidri Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer Dayavathi and Iruvail Panchayat Development Officer Kanthappa was already executed by the Dakshina Kannada District Administration, sparking further tensions.
MLA Kotian’s Assertions
Umanath Kotian has vociferously defended the suspended EO and PDO, attributing their actions to orders from the Deputy Commissioner. He contends that if any punitive action is warranted, it should be directed at the DC rather than the subordinate officials.
Additionally, Kotian highlighted the absence of any specific state guidelines mandating the invitation of the RDPR Minister to gram panchayat-related events. With thousands of gram panchayats across the state, the MLA points out that there is no stipulation requiring the RDPR Minister’s presence for such inaugurations, further challenging the Government’s decision to suspend the officials over the invitation card incident.
The suspension of the two panchayat officials in Dakshina Kannada has become a political flashpoint, with BJP MLA Umanath Kotian challenging the Congress-led Government’s decision. The incident revolving around the omission of Minister Priyank Kharge’s name from an invitation card raises questions about political motivations, and the need for transparent and impartial investigations.