Khopde, Shamkule may quit as corporators after MLC polls

NAGPUR: The present Bharatiya Janata Party corporators Krishna Khopde and Nana Shamkule have reportedly decided to continue in their posts even
after having been elected to the legislative assembly. However, sources in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation say that both the leaders may resign from the civic house after the legislative council polls scheduled in January 2010.

BJP MLC Ashok Mankar, who won the by-election for the legislative council seat from the local bodies constituency in January, will be completing his term in January 2010. Political experts expect both MLAs to vote in the fresh election before resigning their posts in the local bodies.

Both Khopde and Shamkule said to TOI that the party has not taken any decision in this regard as yet. They said that it is only after the party decision that they will resign as civic body members or continue as both MLAs and corporators. However, Khopde added, "The party will take a decision on that only after the MLC polls."

Meanwhile, a senior NMC official said that as per section 19(K) of the City of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (CNC) Act 1948, corporators can continue to in their posts despite being members of the legislative assembly or even the Lok Sabha.

There have been many precedents in this regard, like Congress leader Gev Awari, who was elected as Member of Parliament when he was civic member and continued with both posts without till his term as corporator expired. Also, MLAs Devendra Fadnavis and Mohan Mate continued as civic members after they were elected to the state assembly.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Khopde-Shamkule-may-quit-...