Two city corporation members disqualified for violation of KMC Act provisions in Belagavi

Regional Commissioner Sanjay Shettannanavar issued an order announcing the disqualification of Jayant Yadav from Ward No 23 and Mangesh Pawar from Ward No 41.

Both won on BJP ticket in the elections held in 2021. It was for the first time in several decades that candidates fought on party ticket. Earlier, they used to fight the corporation elections on the lines of language.

The order was issued after a series of hearings that were initiated following a complaint by social activist Sujit Mulgund.

The complainant said that the two obtained shops in the Rani Channabhairadevi Tinisukatte or Khau Katta, a food street in Goaves of Belagavi.

Mr. Mulgund said that this was a clear violation of the rules on conflict of interest that are spelt out in the Act.

The defendants argued that the Public Works Department allotted them shops one year before they were elected members of the city corporation.

The Regional Commissioner, however, ruled that the corporation members were liable for disqualification as they failed to return the shops after being elected as members as per Section 26 (1) and (2).

They obtained and retained the shops in the names of their wives. A spot inspection and inquiry were conducted by Public Works and Revenue and corporation officers, earlier. The two wards have now been declared vacant.

Mr. Mulgund told reporters in Belagavi on Monday that these corporation members misused the facility by using their power and influence, demonstrating that there was a conflict of interest.

The State Cabinet cleared the Khau Katta project to empower women from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and other deprived communities.

Women entrepreneurs and self-help groups were to obtain shops in the food street and earn a living. But the shops were selectively allotted to BJP activists with clout, defeating the purpose behind the project, he complained.

“They have used undue influence, violated rules of office of profit and caused damage to the State Exchequer,” he said.

He said that he will file another set of complaints against some other corporation members who have violated rules.

Advocate Nitin Bolbandi and others argued for Mr. Mulgund.