Altaf Kharuri Elected Vice President of Bhatkal Town Municipal

Bhatkal: 21 August 2024 (Bhatkallys News Bureau)  Muhiddin Altaf Kharuri, a municipal councilor supported by the Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem, has been elected unopposed as the Vice President of the Bhatkal Town Municipal Council. The announcement was made by Election Officer and Bhatkal Tehsildar, Nagaraj.

The election follows the recent state government announcement, made 15 days ago, regarding the reservation of posts for various municipal and panchayat positions across different towns and taluks. For Bhatkal, the post of President was reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) women, while the Vice President’s position was allocated to candidates from the Backward Class A (BCA) category.

The election process for the municipal council’s President and Vice President began at 10:00 AM today. Former Municipal President Pervaiz Qasimji nominated Muhiddin Altaf Kharuri for the Vice President’s post, with Councilor Fatima Kausar Chamandi seconding the nomination. A set of election papers was then submitted to the Tehsildar. Similarly, another nomination for Kharuri was made by Councilor Abdul Azim Mohtisham, supported by Councilor Fayyaz Mulla, and the second set of papers was also submitted.

After verifying the documents, both sets were accepted, and with no other candidates contesting the position, Muhiddin Altaf Kharuri was declared elected as Vice President. A total of 17 councilors were present for the election process.

It is noteworthy that the Tanzeem-backed councilors hold a majority in the Bhatkal municipality, ensuring that the positions of President and Vice President have consistently been filled by their nominees in recent years. Kharuri's name had already been decided in a Tanzeem meeting, leading to his uncontested election.

Following the announcement, fellow councilors and supporters celebrated by garlanding Kharuri and distributing sweets. Outside the municipal building, his supporters expressed their joy by bursting crackers. Bloc Congress General Secretary Suresh Naik and other members were also present to congratulate him.

Kharuri has served as a councilor in the municipality for the past 24 years and brings with him extensive experience, including his tenure as General Secretary of Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem Bhatkal, a prominent social organization in the area.

Due to the absence of any SC women councilors in Bhatkal Municipality, no nomination was filed for the President’s post.