Bhatkal: The Vice President of Bhatkal Town Municipal Council (TMC), Muhiddin Altaf Kharuri, has been assigned the responsibility of being the in-charge president of the municipality. This responsibility was formally handed over to him on Saturday by the Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Bhatkal through a written order. In the absence of the AC, Bhatkal Municipality's Chief Officer, Neelkanth Mesta, handed over the charge to Altaf Kharuri and obtained his signature on the register.

Following this, Bhatkal Jamatul Muslimeen Qazi Maulana Abdul Rab Khateeb Nadvi, the President of the Local Social Organisation Majlis-e-Islah wa Tanzeem, Inayatullah Shahbandri, General Secretary Abdul Raqeeb MJ Nadvi, former municipal president Parvez Qasimji, and other councillors congratulated Kharuri on assuming his new role.

Speaking to the media, Altaf Kharuri stated that the municipality had been under the supervision of the Taluka administration for nearly 16 months, and due to the absence of a president and vice president, the public had been facing numerous issues. He mentioned that many complaints had been received regarding the lack of public services at the municipality, causing distress to the citizens. His primary focus, he said, would be to promptly address the public's grievances and ensure that those who visit the municipality for their work are provided with assistance and ease in getting their tasks done.

It should be noted that during the election for the president and vice president positions held on August 20 at Bhatkal TMC, Altaf Kharuri was elected unopposed as the vice president. However, the position of president was reserved for a woman from the Scheduled Caste, and since no councillor from that category was present in the municipality, the position of president remained vacant. It was expected that the powers of the president would be handed over to the vice president, Altaf Kharuri, in the absence of a president. However, this did not happen initially, prompting Kharuri to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner. Following this, on Saturday, the responsibility of the municipal president was finally entrusted to Altaf Kharuri.