HASSAN: Decks have been cleared for Swetha Devaraj of Congress to take over as president of Hassan zilla panchayat after a local court in Arasikere on Friday postponed hearing of a case in which she was accused of belonging to a caste other than Scheduled Tribes to June 1.
She is the lone member belonging to Scheduled Tribes (woman) in Hassan zilla panchayat and therefore certain of making it to the top post as the state government has reserved it for ST (woman) with the election scheduled for May 5.
Swetha Devaraj represents Bageshapura, a seat reserved for members of ST falling under Arasikere assembly segment of the district. It was for the first time that she contested and won the election against Rekha Jayanna of Janata Dal (S) by a margin of 1018 votes.
In the 40-member Hassan ZP, 23 members belong to JD (S), 16 are of Congress, while the BJP has won a single seat. Soon after the government announced reservation of posts, defeated JD (S) candidate Rekha Jayanna moved the local court against Swetha Devaraj alleging that she did not belong to Valmiki Nayaka community (ST).
The local court, however, allowed the election to be held on May 5 while posting the case for next hearing on June 1. Speaking to DC after the court’s direction, Devaraj, husband of Swetha, claimed that they indeed belong to Valmiki Nayaka community and that academic records and other documents have been presented as evidence.
