Mahesh Gowda of Kanavinakoppa in Thirthahalli taluk in Shivamogga district | Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Mahesh Gowda was elected twice to head the panchayat and served as vice-president three times in the last nine terms. For 70-year-old Mahesh Gowda of Kanavinakoppa in Thirthahalli, it will be his 10th gram panchayat election. He has been elected from Mandagadde panchayat for nine consecutive terms since 1972.
Mr. Gowda got into electoral politics a couple of years after he completed his pre-university education. When he contested in 1972, he was 22. “I filed the nomination papers curious to know how people would respond and I won. Since then, I have been contesting,” he said.