Bhatkal Jali Patan Panchayath President Abdul Rahim Shaikh resigns; Imran Lanka, Adam Panambur front runners for the post in re-elections

Bhatkal 02 June 2018: (Bhatkallys News Bureau) Bhatkal Jali Patan Panchayath President and Congress member Abdul Rahim Shaikh submitted his resignation at the office of Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner's office here in Karwar on Tuesday May 29. According to the letter submitted to the DC, Abdul Rahim blamed poor management of Panchayath by the administration and stated that appropriate funds, manpower and services were not supplied to the Panchayath which led to inconveniences for his team to execute the developmental works and plans. The letter further stated that the Panchayath had long been demanding deputation of full time Engineer and Chief Officer, a demand which he says is yet to be met and is yet another an obstacle in carrying out public work, which has resulted in rise in public complaints. Abdul Rahim who is a close aide of Ex-MLA of Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency Mankal Vaidya was elected president of Jali Patan Panchayath in 2016, and 11 months left in his tenure to be completed. Syed Adam Panambur, a Jali-Patan Panchayath member while speaking to Bhatkallys.com confirmed that a new president will be elected for the remaining tenure of 11 months once the DC officially accepts the resignation and orders the re-election. Imran Lanka who was selected by Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, a body which has a stronghold on 12 out of 20 seats at Jali Patan Panchayath, to be the President of the Patan Panchayat during the elections is once again the front runner for the top-post, while Adam added that he will also be in the race for the post. Interestingly, during the elections when Imran Lanka was selected by Tanzeem, a few last moment's unexpected turn of events and cross-voting had elevated Abdul Rahim as the President against the will of Tanzeem, a move which was credited to Mankal Vaidya by a section of local political experts. (Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Ismail Zaorez)