KODAGU ZP A DIVIDED HOUSE? ZP CEO DENIES RIFT WITH ELECTED MEMBERS

The Kodagu zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Charulatha Somal, IAS, (in picture) has denied reports that she was not cooperating in taking up developmental works as the BJP was the ruling party in the Kodagu zilla panchayat (ZP).

 According to reports, over 15 ZP members, led by vice-president Rajeshwari Gopal barged into the CEO’s office on Wednesday and sought to know why the officer was not cooperating with the members. The ZP members asked the official to “change her style of functioning”.

 Speaking to the news portal www.www.coorgnews.in, the CEO denied reports of a rift between her and the elected ZP members. She said: “We will work collectively for the development of Kodagu within the ambit of law, irrespective of the party affiliation.”

 Asked if Kodagu was being discriminated because the ZP was controlled by the BJP, whereas the state government was led by the Congress, Somal stated that she had good rapport with the elected representatives in the district irrespective of their party affiliations. “There will be no discrimination in the release of funds for development”, she added.

Meanwhile, ZP president B.A. Harish told reporters: “The party will give her one-week deadline to change her style of functioning. If she fails to mend her ways, the ZP members will stage a protest. I will write to government against the CEO.”