The State government has disqualified two Belagavi City Corporation members for violating provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation (KMC) Act 1976, specifically concerning conflicts of interest.
Regional Commissioner Sanjay Shettannanavar issued the disqualification order for Jayant Yadav from Ward No. 23 and Mangesh Pawar from Ward No. 41, both elected on the BJP ticket in 2021. It marked the first time in decades that corporation candidates contested elections on party lines, rather than based on language.
The disqualification followed a series of hearings initiated by a complaint from social activist Sujit Mulgund. The complainant alleged that Yadav and Pawar had obtained shops in the Rani Channabhairadevi Tinisukatte, a food street in Goaves, Belagavi. Mulgund argued this was a clear breach of the conflict of interest provisions laid out in the KMC Act.
The two defendants defended themselves, stating the shops were allocated to them by the Public Works Department one year before their election to the city corporation. However, the Regional Commissioner ruled that the members were liable for disqualification because they failed to return the shops after being elected, as required under Section 26 (1) and (2) of the Act.
The shops were obtained and retained under the names of their wives. A spot inspection and inquiry by Public Works, Revenue, and Corporation officers corroborated the complaint. As a result, both wards have now been declared vacant.
Mulgund explained to reporters that the corporation members had misused their power and influence, demonstrating a clear conflict of interest. He added that the Khau Katta project, approved by the State Cabinet to empower women from marginalized communities, was intended to provide food street shops to women entrepreneurs and self-help groups. Instead, the shops were allegedly allotted to BJP activists, undermining the project’s objective.
Mulgund further accused the members of using undue influence, violating office of profit rules, and causing harm to the State Exchequer. He also mentioned plans to file additional complaints against other corporation members who had violated rules.
Advocate Nitin Bolbandi, among others, represented Mulgund during the proceedings.
