Belgaum gets its second Kannada-speaking Mayor
7:59 AM Posted by ukmad
SURPRISE WINNERS: Prashanta Shantinath Budavi (left) and Yunis B. Momin who were elected as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Belgaum respectively on Tuesday.
Belgaum: A Kannada-speaking candidate on Tuesday was elected Mayor of Belgaum, which is considered a stronghold of the Maharashtra Ekikarani Samiti (MES). The MES lost the Deputy Mayor’s post to an Urdu-speaking candidate.
Regional Commissioner, Amita Prasad, who officiated as Returning Officer, declared Prashanta Shantinath Budavi elected as Mayor and Yunis B. Momin elected as Deputy Mayor.
The post of Mayor was reserved for woman (general) and that of Deputy Mayor for “general”. Ms. Budavi and Mr. Momin polled 30 votes each as against 28 votes polled by MES candidates Neelima Paushe and Netaji Balu Mangutkar. The Kannada organisations and workers, who had all the reasons to celebrate the victory, had to be content with offering floral tributes to the statue of Rani Channamma at Channamma Circle, thanks to the prohibitory orders in force.
Ms. Budavi and Mr. Momin belong to Sarvabhashik Samvichar Vikas Vedike floated by a Kannada-Urdu speaking corporators with the help of a small breakaway group of MES led by the former Mayor Sambhaji Patil.
Belgaum MP Suresh C. Angadi, who did not vote in the past mayoral polls, yielded to pressure from the BJP leadership and Kananda groups and cast his vote in favour of the vedike candidates.
Thirty-seven-year-old Ms. Budavi hails from Kittur. She is the wife of Shantinath Budavi, City president of Kannada Rakshana Vedike. A home-maker, she represents Ward No.58 in the Council. Mr. Momin, 44, is a Science graduate and represents Ward No. 47 in the city.
However, Ms. Budavi is the second Kannada-speaking candidate to be elected Mayor. The first Kannada candidate who held the Mayor’s post was veteran Kannada leader Siddangouda Patil from June 30, 1991 to December 25, 1992.
The then Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government led by the former Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh had yielded to pressure from Kannada organisations and on November 21, 2005 superseded the corporation Council headed by the then Mayor Vijay Pandurang More for taking a stand favouring merger of areas dominated by Marathi-speaking people in Belgaum with Maharashtra.
Ms. Budavi and Mr. Momin expressed their gratitude to SSVV members, their leader Sambhaji Patil and Mr. Angadi for their election.
The reservation for women has ensured 16 women being elected to the civic body in September 2007 polls. Ever since the formation of the corporation, four of the 19 Mayoral terms hitherto, were led by three women corporators. Vijayalakshmi Vishnu Chopde was the first woman Mayor who completed her term from February 15, 1996 to February 15, 1997.
Vandana Mohan Belgundkar was the only woman to have served two full mayoral terms in same Council from June 16, 2001 to June 19, 2002 and later again from September 3, 2004 to September 5, 2005. Neelima Chavhan was the third woman to head the Council from June 29, 2002 to June 29, 2003.
Also, five deputy mayoral terms were served by four women members — Kusuma Krishna Tapale (Mayor 24, 1990 to June 29, 1991), Gourabai Jaipal Londe (February 15, 1997 to March 30, 1998), Asma Tahsildar (April 17, 2000 to February 13, 2001) and Veena Kolkar (from June 16 to 19, 2001 and June 30, 2003 to September 3, 2004). Unity paid off
Mr. Angadi has attributed the victory of Kannada speaking candidate belonging to Sarvabhashik Samvichar Vikas Vedike as Mayor of the 58-member corporation to the vedike members who remained united until the end. He told The Hindu soon after the results of the Mayoral polls were declared here on Tuesday afternoon that the credit should go to all the corporators, including the Urdu and two Marathi-speaking corporators who were united under the banner of the vedike to create a history of sorts.
Nobody else could claim the success of the vedike candidates, he said. Kannada Rakshana Vedike’s office-bearer said that but Mr. Angadi’s vote, no body else in the city or district came forward to support the vedike.
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Kannada Mayor after 26 years
8:35 PM Posted by ukmad
After 26 years Kannada group has made it to the Mayors post and the king maker Shambhaji Patil played his cards correctly.
Urdu corporators fix trade at Rs 15 lakh
9:40 PM Posted by ukmad
source: New Indian Express
Corporators come out of hibernation
4:51 PM Posted by ukmad
As the day to elect the Belgaum Mayor is fast approaching, the corporators who were cooling their heels for the last five months after winning the polls, are active again. If observed the present political scenario, the group of corporators led by Kannada group may sit on the driver’s seat to drive the Corporation bus.Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has failed to gather the Marathi linguistic corporators under one roof and has adopted ‘wait and watch’ policy which indicates its helplessness.Even though the number of seats won by MES, non-MES Marathi linguistics, Kannada and Urdu groups are equal, non-Marathi factions has upper hand to rule the BCC as it has an extra vote of MP Suresh Angadi.MES has won 11 seats, Marathi linguistics 16, Kannada including Sambhajirao Patil and two of his supporters has 21 seats and eight corporators belong to the Urdu group.Urdu group, who will play a decision making role in holding power, had played a little political gimmick in the beginning to establish its importance. After the election, they had extended their support to Kannada group and announced its solidarity with the Kannada group. However, later, they decided to remain independent and kept their options open to back any faction that will support an Urdu candidate for the Mayor’s post.This decision by the Urdu group gave MES a re-birth, who made a vain bid to attract the Urdu group. However, the Urdu candidates refused to go with the MES and decided to remain with the Kannada group. It was decided that a Kannada corporator will be the Mayor, while an Urdu candidate will enjoy the powers of Deputy Mayor.It was also decided to keep four-time mayor Sambhajirao Patil away from the decision making process. Patil, who played vital role in electing mayors in previous terms, will now stay away from the mayoral activity.Even though it is an insult to Patil, he has no other option but to accept the Kannada group’s decision.According to latest developments, the Kannada candidates have suggested the names of Jyoti Bhavikatti and Shanta Uppar for the Mayor’s post. Jyoti is the favourate as Shanta was one of the six corporators who had cast their votes in favour of former mayor Vijay More in the last election. If things go according to the plan, Belgaum city will get second Kannada and Urdu linguistics mayor and deputy mayor. Siddangouda Patil and Nisarahmed Sanadi were the first Kannada and Urdu mayor and deputy mayor, respectively.Manda Balekundri, Latha Patil, Renu Killekar, Neelima Pawase, Anita Kitwadkar and Aruna Kutre are interested to contest for the mayor’s post from the MES camp.
Source: The NewIndian Express
Things getting hotter for the Post of Mayor
4:51 PM Posted by ukmad
The election of the post of Mayor and Dy.Mayor will be held on 4th of March. It has been over 4 months the corporators have been elected but the city did not have a Mayor. The tug of war between Kannada group and Marathi group is on its acme. The best thing is the equation is 30-29 in favor of the Kannada group. The urdu group is with the Kannada Group. The marathi group has been taken to somewhere in Konkan area so that there is no more infighting and divide.If the situation goes as it is now a Kannada group mayor is certain this time I guess.
But in politics anything can happen. I will keep you all posted.
I feel I am in Maharashtra:Thanks to HESCOM
7:06 PM Posted by ukmad
Since the past week or so, I and Belgaumites as well must be feeling as if they are in Maharashtra. Thanks to HESCOM (Hubli Electric Supply Company). In the past few days there has been un disclosed load shedding twice to thrice a day. The best part is the lights go off at nay time they wish, no timetable at all. I guess this is because of the shortage, but friends be ware this is first week of March and still April land May have to come, we can only expect the load shedding to go up and may be even we will face the power shortage as in Maharashtra, where there is load shedding for 12 to 16 hours in the whole state. Lets hope for the best…
Common man budget
10:59 AM Posted by ukmad
It looks like P Chidambaram and Co is very much inspired by the “RobinHood” story. This year Government has a record tax collection even surpassing the budgeted estimates. The excess tax collection has totally been diverted to Farm Loan waiver of Rs. 60000 cr.
I don’t think farmers suicide rate will go down with this wavier. The same farmer will apply for fresh loan next year.
Exemption Limit.
Finance minister has taken a bold decision of increasing the tax emption limit and reducing the tax rates. I think this tax rate structure will prevail for the next 3 to 4 years. Individuals will have more money in their hand to spend or invest. But this tax cut may not be a good news for IT employees. The struggling sector due to US recession and Dollar will cut the salaries of the employees to the extent of benefit they get from this tax savings.
Education:
The increased allocation to Education sector is welcome. The strength of India is its
young generation. 50% of Indians are below 30 age. Education is of prime importance for nation building.
Increase in Short Term Capital Gain:
With the increase in Short Term capital gain on shares by 5% Investors may hold their shares for Mid Term to Long Term. But we may see a reduction in daily turnover in stock market which is not a good sign.
Corporate to Gain Nothing:
This years record tax collection is largely contributed by corporate sector. There are no reductions in FBT and corporate taxes in this budget. The reduction in Excise duty will be passed on to consumers.
In all it is a common man budget. Due to the American pressure on Nuclear Deal , if the deal go through we may see a early elections. With this budget it looks like Government is getting ready for early election.
Chetan.Chougule B.COM A.C.A
KEEPING A SECTION OF POPULATION HAPPY AT WHOSE COST
1:03 PM Posted by ukmad
The union budget was presented by Mr.Chidambaram today. The views of various Charetred accountants and Stock market investors of Belgaum is here below:Mr.Nitin Nimbalkar (Investor)
KEEPING A SECTION OF POPULATION HAPPY AT WHOSE COST
The finance minister rose to the occasion and delivered a budget, which vowed a large section of the society with the intention of nothing, more than a vote.
The minister was more of a politician today rather that a economist.
The same thing happened today sincere and faithful farmers had to sacrifice and the one who were not that sincere got the benefit. I don’t say that all the farmers who don’t pay are not sincere but 75% of the farmers are capable of paying back.
This is giving a very wrong signal to the sincere farmers, friends be rest assured that the government will have to shell out a lot more in years to come because of the mindset of the farmers.
By increasing the exemption limit the minister has helped the Income tax department of the hardship of handling unwanted stationery.
By reducing the Bank transaction tax the minister has reduced the complexity in cash dealings, this will definitely bring in more liquidity in day today Bussiness.
Regarding customs and excise he did good job by neutralizing what he shelled out in the individual tax collections.
Because of depreciating dollar he did not reduce the peak customs duty.
Service tax limit hike will help a lot of people.
All in all I feel that the finance minister has intelligently used the surplus of tax collections of last year to give away the sops to the individuals be it a farmer , a businessman or a salaried employee.
He has clearly ignored the near future in trying to buy out the votes.
Because friends if next year if Mr. Chidambaram rises to present the budget (if UPA Govt returns to power) Be rest assured that it will be a completely different Ride.
So friends enjoy the year 2008-2009 this might be a peace before a storm…. so enjoy……..
Mr.Nitin Nimbalkar is my blog Financial Editor.
Jodha Akbar Row in Belgaum Also
9:54 AM Posted by ukmad
Marching ahead: Activists of Sri Shiv Pratishthan taking out a procession in Belgaum on Thursday in protest against the alleged assault by the police on their leader Sambhajirao Bhide in Sangli on Wednesday.The Jodha Akbar Show in Nartaki was cancelled.
Source: The Hindu
Belgaum gets NOTHING
2:23 PM Posted by ukmad
The Rail budget presented by Lalu Prasad as every time has nothing for us Belgaumites. All those demands made by the Belgaum Chambers and others have gone on deaf ears. What we got from the budget is here.Increase in frequency of Trains:
1561/1562 Miraj-Belgaum Passenger (from 6 days in a week to daily)
1561/1562 Miraj-Belgaum Passenger (from 6 days in a week to daily)
1563/1564 Miraj-Belgaum Passenger (from 6 days in a week to daily)
Survey works are proposed to be taken up:Dharwad-Bayalahongal-Belgaum. This survey is being done from the last budget and still is nothing has been done. In all the Rail budget in line with expectations as I atleast had no expectations what so ever with my city in mind. The only plus thing is, if I get a ticket to travel I would just save 5% of my travel allowance.
Mrashtra's Belgaum bid futile: Centre
7:56 AM Posted by ukmad
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that Maharashtra has been fighting a futile legal battle demanding the annexation of 814 villages in Belgaum, Karwar, Bidar and Gulbarga districts of Karnataka, which have significant Marathi-speaking people.
“It is neither feasible nor desirable to demarcate the borders of villages, taluks and districts in a manner that the people speaking one language can or may be retained in one state only. Such a solution has severe practical problems and severe consequences, which have been succinctly laid out by States’ Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in its report,” said an affidavit by the Director of the Union Home Ministry, which is in the possession of Deccan Herald. However, copies of the affidavit are yet to be provided to the parties.The document, prepared by then Solicitor-General Golam E Vahanvati and filed on November 16, 2006, said, “It is submitted that in the process of reorganisation, a certain minimum amount of linguistic overlap is to be expected along the border.”Linguistic homogeneity as a concept is beset with practical problems, espe-cially in the case of a multi-lingual country like India, as discussed in SRC report.
In another affidavit prepared on August 23, 2006 but not filed following public outcry in Maharashtra, the Centre had urged the apex court to “dispose of the suit” filed by the Maharashtra government in 2004.With a piece of advice, the UPA government said boundary disputes in any multi-lingual country are best resolved with the mutual consent or agreement of the states concerned arrived at through amicable negotiations, which the Centre is committed to facilitate.The Centre said: “The various insinuations and allegations by Maharashtra are not admitted.”It justified the findings in the report submitted on September 3, 1967 by Mehr Chand Mahajan, the chairman of the commission constituted to resolve the border dispute between the two states, and said the matter was settled 41 years back. The next hearing of the case has been scheduled for March 26. The previous hearing in January third week was adjourned after Maharashtra which was to file its reply on the day did not do so.
Foundries in Crisis
11:14 AM Posted by ukmad
The Belgaum Chapter (Southern Region) of The Institute of Indian Foundrymen (IIF) has said there is a likely threat of closing down the foundry units in Belgaum and the neighbouring Kolhapur district in Maharashtra for a fortnight “to avoid heavy losses” because of the rising prices of raw materials.Members of the IIF marched to the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Saturday to draw the attention of the Government towards the “crisis” confronting the sector in the country owing to the increasing prices of raw materials.
The procession was led by chairman of the IIF’s Belgaum Chapter Ram Bhandare.
In a memorandum addressed to the Joint Director of the District Industries Centre, the IIF said the foundry sector was supporting engineering exports and domestic market.
It was the fourth largest producer of castings in the world. The sector was poised to become one of the top three producers of castings in the world by 2010, as it was witnessing an export growth rate of 15 per cent every year, the memorandum said. Exports during the year 2006-07 accounted for Rs. 4,000 crore and it was expected to touch Rs. 6,000-crore mark by 2010, it said.
Belgaum tops the State in the sector with production of one lakh tonne every year, Mr. Bhandare said. By 2010, the production would touch 1.60 lakh tonne a year and exports would increase from the present Rs. 100 crore to Rs. 300 crore by then, he said. This sector had provided employment to nearly 10,000 people and another 5,000 people were expected to get employment by 2010, he said. The revenue generation was also expected to grow from the present Rs. 500 crore to Rs. 800 crore during the next three years.
But, the sector was facing a crisis of sorts owing to rising prices of pig iron, steel, coke and scrap, he said and added that the prices of these materials were increasing every month and sometimes every fortnight.
To tide over the crisis, the IIF wants the Government to ban or exercise effective control on export of iron ore by imposing heavy duty which will help in better realisation for exports of steel/casting. The practice of increasing prices of raw materials every month should be stopped immediately and import duty on coking coal/coke should be abolished to bring down the prices, it said.
Source: The Hindu
Sonu Nigam concert to raise funds for school
4:21 PM Posted by ukmad
The concert will be organised by the Sri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain Education and Cultural Trust, which runs the Jain Group of Institutions (JGI) in the country, to raise funds for setting up Jain Vidyaniketan in Belgaum.
The concert will be held at the district stadium from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. on March 4. The entry passes, priced between Rs. 200 and Rs. 2,500, will be available at the Jain College in Peeranwadi, Swamy Bakery, Ajanta Café and Jain MATS in the city. R.G. Dharwadkar, Principal of the Jain College of Science and Arts, and Radhe Shyam Heda, Managing Trustee of JGI, said here on Wednesday that the JGI planned to establish 100 vidyaniketans in the country in the next five to 10 years.
The JGI expected to make about Rs. 25 lakh to Rs. 30 lakh from the event featuring Sonu Niigaam.
Three standards — LKG, UKG and first standard in Kannada medium — were being planned to be started from the academic year 2009-10.
All children living within a radius of 20 km of the school would be provided free transportation.
Source: The Hindu
Stop this treatment for us
9:41 PM Posted by ukmad
We are totally upset over the recent attitude and act of state government especially education department and vice chancellors of VTUThe VTU Bosh and Rexorth R & D centre is opened in Mysore and even the German tool room was established at Bangalore, the e-learning studio of VTU is in Mysore,Why not the proper expansion of VTU takes place in Belgaum.
Why the government have this sham and show off in showing its attitude towards North Karnataka in general and Belgaum in particular, North Karnataka cities mainly Belgaum and twin cities hubli dharwad are the best potent cities with diverse culture and skilled manpower resource ,I highly feel off for such attitude of state government, I want Belgaumites to come forward and fight for such discrimination , Why not Belgaum have such development centre and studios.
The wake up call some weakness and strength
Strength :Belgaum contributes second largest revenue to state and first in horticulture export
Weakness: Cargo handling facility at Belgaum Airport for agriculture and horticulture export was planned and never executed.
Strength: Equidistant to Bangalore Mumbai and Hyderabad
Weakness : No initiative form state government for Belgaum-Dharwad and Belgaum-Bagalkot-Raichur Rail line
Strength: American and foreign universities, GEMS education interested to establish educational township in Belgaum
Weakness : lack of political will and slow response form state government to make investor friendly approach towards Belgaum
Still at LargeIT park ( only foundation stone , no facilities)
Textile Park ( Private partnership , in progress)
Power generation projects ( 1 Shelved and 2 are on hold for indefinite time)
Food and Agriculture park (bureaucratic delays and lack of support to contractor)
International cricket stadium ( only land allotted and no further move on it)
Airport expansion funds available with state government from AAI but not ready to utilize for settlement of farm land acquired by farmers , fight over the cost of landRing road , just ringing around in papers
Suvarna Vidhan Suadha , only foundation stone
Vaccine institute to be developed in Belgaum as research centre, no further news on it
Auto complex an utter flop due to lack of proper planning .
Lot of entrepreneurs investing in border district of Maharashtra. Well there are many still but will never work till are made aware and brought to public noticeLet Belgaum flourish and we the Belgaumites reap benefits of it.
Schoolmates collaborate for a good cause
1:34 PM Posted by ukmad
