HUBBALLI/RAICHUR: Tidigol-Nidigol, twin villages in Sindhanur taluk, Raichur, and Hangaraki in Dharwad taluk and district, were made gram panchayats in 1993.
Tidigol has got 25 seats including three from Kurakunda village and five from Uppaladoddi. Hangaraki has 10 seats including two each from Dubbanamaradi and KM Tadakod.
However, both the GPs never witnessed an election as the villagers always prefered unopposed representatives to avoid political clashes. This time also Kurakunda and Uppaladoddi have elected their representatives unanimously and one seat in KM Tadakod also got an unopposed member.
But Tidigol-Nidigol and Hangaraki are facing an election for 17 and six seats, respectivey. Villagers feel the lack of able leadership is the reason for the election.
Hangaraki is the native village of Dharwad MLA Amrut Desai. Bhimappa H Ramannavar, 53, a former GP member in Hangaraki told TOI his villages had not seen an election even during the era of Mandal Panchayat before 1993-94. “All village elders used to conduct an open meeting and used to make list of aspirants. People used to discuss honesty, activeness, capacity of serving people and all aspects. All would abide by the collective decision and there was no space for silly aspects like caste and creed. And there was no space for re-appointing anyone as a GP member to give a chance to others and to avoid increasing someone’s influence on GP proceedings. The whole village was one party. Now, there is respect for collective decision and social media like WhatsApp and Facebook have created difference of opinion and even rivalry among youngsters,” he said.
Hangaraki has about 1,900 voters for six seats.
Tidigol-Nidigol villages have a population of about 10,000. “Elders like late Mahantgouda Bajegouda, Kadappa and others used to take all residents into confidence to avoid election. But they never involved in nepotism and never proposed any of their family members for a GP member’s post. The villagers are peace lovers and settle any issues or disputes amicably and cordially,” said Beerappa Shambhoji, who retired as a head master of government high school in Tidigol, which falls under Maski assembly constituency.
Meanwhile a GP candidate, busy in poll campaign, said the defection of former MLA Prathapagouda Patil and his opponent R Basanagowda Turvihal has led to party politics becoming stronger in the village.