Savita S. Kotian and Prakash T. Mendon of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were elected unopposed the president and vice-president of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat (ZP) here on Thursday.
The post of the president is reserved for the general category (woman), while that of the vice-president is reserved for the general category.
The BJP has 16 members and the Congress has nine in the 25-member zilla panchayat.
The Congress party did not field any candidates.
M.V. Jayanti, Regional Commissioner, Mysore, announced the election of Ms. Kotian and Mr. Mendon. They will remain in their posts till February 8, 2016.
Ms. Kotian (38) is a second-time zilla panchayat member. She was elected from Belman ZP constituency in 2005 and from Bailoor ZP constituency in 2010. She joined the BJP after completing her PU. She was the vice-president of the district unit of the BJP from 2006 to 2009.
Mr. Mendon (40) is a first time zilla panchayat member and represents the Basrur constituency. He has been a BJP activist for the last 20 years.
Speaking to presspersons after the election, Ms. Kotian said she would give importance to agriculture, drinking water, and construction of roads during her tenure as president.
“Many farmers are disillusioned with agriculture. The government has several schemes for the sector. But farmers have not been able to take advantage of it because of lack of proper coordination. I will try to improve the coordination between farmers, the government and the zilla panchayat,” she said.
Muddu Mohan, Deputy Commissioner, and M. Kanagavalli, CEO of zilla panchayat, were present.
