In an interesting development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress have joined hands to hold positions of power in Sakleshpur Taluk Panchayat (TP). H.Y. Shwetha of the BJP has been elected president, while R. Manjunath of the Congress secured the post of vice president, in the elections held on Tuesday.
In the 11-member panchayat, the Congress won five seats, the JD(S) four and the BJP two. No party had the required number of seats to hold power. The Congress forged an alliance with the BJP to avoid the JD(S) assuming power. This is the first time the BJP has come to power in Sakleshpur TP.
Ms. Shwetha won with seven votes, while Chaitra, from JD(S), managed to get only four. R. Manjunath secured seven votes while D.D. Shivappa of the JD(S) got only four.
