Aranthodu Gram Panchayat in Sullia taluk now has a double post-graduate degree holder, an engineer-turned-farmer, as its vice-president. It is the first stint in politics for Shivanand K., M.Tech and M.Sc degree holder. He was elected vice-president of the panchayat on Monday.
Mr. Shivanand obtained his M.Tech in Materials Engineering from the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, and M.Sc in Materials Science from Mangalore University more than a decade ago.
He had been elected to the panchayat in the May 29 elections from Aranthodu Ward II. The post of panchayat president was reserved for Backward Class A category and that of vice-president for the general category. Leelavathi was elected panchayat president.
Mr. Shivanand, who is now a full-time agriculturist, told The Hindu that he was hopeful of doing some constructive work as president and vice-president of panchayats now enjoyed a full five-year term. He said that he would have to study how modern technology could be effectively made use of in the panchayat administration and ensure an effective delivery system. He said that as villages too are now turning as dumping yards, members of Aranthodu panchayat would give priority to keeping the village clean and in providing corruption-free administration.
“It needs at least a month to study and plan for projects required in the village,” he said. He said that like in many villages, Aranthoudu was not free from poor interior roads. People need good connectivity. Backed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he had secured 596 votes of the total 905 votes. His nearest rival, Nityanand, backed by the Congress, got 346 votes.
