Bhatkal TMC to elect president on September 8 after 28-month vacancy of post

Bhatkal: 22 August (Bhatkallys News Bureau) After remaining vacant for more than two years, the post of president of the Bhatkal Town Municipal Council (TMC) will finally be filled through an election scheduled for September 8. The announcement comes as the current council enters the last leg of its tenure, which ends on November 4.

The notification for the election was issued by the Bhatkal Tahsildar following directions from the state government.

The post has been lying vacant for nearly 28 months, since the completion of the first half of the TMC’s tenth term. As per the reservation roster, the president’s post for the second half of the term was earmarked for a Scheduled Caste (woman) candidate. However, with no councillor from that category present in the 23-member Bhatkal TMC, the seat remained unfilled.

During this period, vice-president Altaf Kharuri has been handling the responsibilities as acting president, ensuring day-to-day functioning of the council.

The deadlock was broken after the state government revised the reservation rules. On July 21, the Urban Development Department issued a notification changing the category of reservation from Scheduled Caste (woman) to Scheduled Caste (general). This amendment opened the way for the election to take place.

According to official sources, the election will be conducted at the TMC meeting hall between 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on September 8. Councillor Raghvendra Gawaali, who was elected as an independent, is the only Scheduled Caste member in the present council. He is therefore the lone eligible candidate and is widely expected to be elected unopposed.

If elected, Gawaali’s tenure as president will be brief, lasting less than two months, as the term of the existing council ends on November 4. Nevertheless, the election will bring an end to the prolonged leadership vacuum and allow the TMC to function under a formally elected head for the remainder of its mandate.