Mangaluru : Meenakshi K and Kasthuri Panja from the BJP were elected as the president and vice president respectively of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat on Thursday, for a five-year term till April 27, 2021.

Mysuru Regional Commissioner A M Kunjappa conducted the election. The post of president was reserved for a Scheduled Caste member, while that of the vice-president was for a woman from general category. Two candidates had filed their nominations for each of the posts. Meenakshi defeated Shekar Kukkedi of Congress with 21-15 margin vote, and Kasthuri Panja defeated Anitha Hemanath Shetty by 21-15 votes.

The BJP had two eligible candidates to be fielded for the post of president – Meenakshi K, elected from Panaje constituency in Puttur taluk, and Sujatha, elected from Shirthady constituency in Belthangady taluk. The BJP DK unit decided to field Meenakshi for the post.

There was no male candidate for the post of President. On the other hand, there were 13 eligible candidates for the post of Vice President.

After the elections, Meenakshi said that her priority is to solve the drinking water problems. “The district is reeling under water crisis and all efforts will made to solve the problem. During my tenure, I will also try to provide infrastructure to the rural areas, with the cooperation of all the members in the Zilla Panchayat,” she promised. Kasthuri Panja also assured that she will discharge her duties efficiently

Meenakshi K (38) is a first-time ZP member. She has passed SSLC and was working as an Asha worker for five years. She has served as secretary in a self-help group. Her husband Babu is a farmer and they have two sons.

Kasthuri Panja (49) has served as a member of District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee and of Kemral Gram Panchayat for 16 years. She is also a poet and AIR artiste.

She had contested the Zilla Panchayat in 2005. Her husband Hemachandra is a retired bank manager.