Administrative work hit as corporation employees go on leave en masse

UNHEALTHY DEVELOPMENT: The Belgaum City Corporation wore a deserted look on Monday when its employees went on leave.
People here now find themselves caught between the executive and the elected body of Belgaum City Corporation which is dogged by unhealthy politics.
With the corporation employees announcing an “indefinite leave” from Monday to express solidarity with municipal commissioner P.A. Meghannavar and to seek an apology from Mayor Prashanta Budavi for taking a unilateral decision on her demand for transfer of the former on Saturday, people had to return in disappointment without getting their works done at the corporation.

Except for Mr. Meghannavar, there was none working in any of the departments.
All the employees, under the banner of Belgaum Mahanagar Palika Naukarara Sangh, led by its president, Vijay Kottur, marched to the office of Regional Commissioner and submitted a memorandum in support of their demand. They also declared that they would not attend office work until the Mayor tendered her apology.

Ms. Budavi and floor leader of the ruling Kannada-Urdu group Sambhaji Patil had accused Mr. Meghannavar of behaving rudely with new corporators. Mr. Meghannavar was also accused of manipulating the “agenda” and allowing BJP MLA Abhay Kumar Patil to hold a meeting on the corporation premises without informing the Mayor.
Ms. Budavi had unilaterally announced that the council would demand the Government to shift Mr. Meghannavar and abruptly adjourned the general body meeting on Saturday. Interestingly, though the staff have criticised the Mayor’s unilateral announcement, they have not denied the charges made against Mr. Meghannavar.