Speaking to the press at Khau Katta on Tuesday, BJP MLA Abhay Patil strongly criticized the disqualification of two Belagavi City Corporation members, calling it an act of political vendetta.
Mr. Patil defended the two BJP corporators, Jayant Yadav (Ward No. 23) and Mangesh Pawar (Ward No. 41), who were disqualified by Regional Commissioner Sanjay Shettannanvar for violating the Karnataka Municipal Corporations (KMC) Act concerning conflict of interest. The MLA asserted that neither had breached any rules, including those related to conflict of interest or office of profit.
The disqualification stemmed from their failure to return shops allotted to their wives at Rani Channabhairadevi Tinisu Katte (Khau Katta) after their election to the corporation. Citing Sections 26 (1) and (2) of the KMC Act, the Regional Commissioner deemed their actions as a clear violation of municipal regulations.
Mr. Patil, however, dismissed the decision as politically motivated, alleging that officials acted under undue pressure. He announced that the affected members would challenge the orders in court and vowed to escalate the issue by filing a complaint against the Regional Commissioner with the Governor. “We will also approach the Union government under provisions applicable to IAS officers to ensure accountability,” he added.
Further, the MLA questioned the legal basis of the decision, emphasizing that the food street was built by the Public Works Department, not the city corporation, and therefore, the disqualification was unwarranted. “These shops were won through an auction two years before they became corporators. How can this be labeled as political influence? Even a fool can see through this, but the Regional Commissioner seems to have his own law,” he remarked.
Mr. Patil hinted at possible further disqualifications of BJP members by the Congress-led government but remained defiant. “They may do it, but we will take our fight to the people,” he said. However, he refused to name the politician he believed was behind the move, stating, “Everybody knows who is responsible. I have no time for such things.”
The disqualification has sparked a fresh political controversy in Belagavi, setting the stage for a legal and political showdown.