Bengaluru, Feb 18: Deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi was elected to the legislative council on Monday and although it was a done deal that he would win, a vote from across the aisle spiced up the election.
Counting was conducted soon after ballots were cast and Savadi polled 113 of the 120 votes cast, including the vote of disgruntled JD(S) legislator GT Devegowda. Seven votes were declared invalid. Members of the two opposition parties — Congress and JD(S) — abstained from voting.
The election was necessitated following the resignation of Rizwan Arshad of the Congress. Rizwan resigned after he was elected to the legislative assembly from the Shivajinagar constituency in the assembly bypolls held for 15 seats in December last year.
BR Anil Kumar, who was initially promised the support of both Congress and JD(S) was supposed to contest as an independent candidate. However, as both parties refused to support him at the last minute, he withdrew, paving the way for Savadi’s victory.
The BJP has 117 members in the 225-member assembly, but N Mahesh of the BSP and two independents, H Nagesh and Sharath Bachchegowda, besides GT Devegowda also voted, taking the total electorate to 120 (including the speaker). BJP’s SA Ramadas did not turn up because of health reasons.
“I would like to thank all those who were responsible for my victory. Special thanks to leaders of my party and chief minister BS Yediyurappa, who gave me the opportunity to be the BJP candidate,” said Savadi.
Winning this council election was crucial for Savadi to retain his ministry as he was not an elected member of either of the houses. Rules mandate that a non-member must get elected either to the assembly or council within six months after taking over as minister. February 20 was the deadline for Savadi, who had lost 2018 assembly polls from Athani, to get elected.
Officials in the assembly secretariat said seven votes were invalid because voters had wrongly marked their choices on ballot paper. According to norms, a voter has to mark numerical one, two and three against the names of the candidates in order of preference. Marking only numerical one is allowed. However, six ballots had a tick mark, while a voter had registered a cross mark. Since it was a secret ballot, it was not known who the MLAs were whose votes were invalid.
“The ballot papers bear serial numbers and they are randomly distributed. It is virtually impossible to say who a voter cast his or her vote for,” said assembly secretary MK Vishalakashi, the retuning officer for the bypoll.
Comments
i want ask the government...the apex ,the judges (honorable)of hcourt civil court, and above i want all my lawyer brothers, please dont e3ver play with your profession ,REMEMBER SOMEBODY WATCHING YOU 24 HRS ,YOU ALWAYS PRAY TO AND U HAVE SHARDHA, TRY PROVE THE TRUTH ... WHAT HE WILL GET OR SHOULD GET, OR WHETHER HE WILL RELEASE ON BAIL.... PEOPLE MAKE JUDGEMENT..THANKS.
inspired from whome? head of the department?
Rather than killing innocent and those who do hard work.. The GAU-RAKSHAHS should target such kind of CRIMINALs who deosnt recognise even a 6 year old child....
EVIL is cheddis agenda... which will effect the society in the near Future if we did not voice out or protest against increasing criminals in our society...
Stop arresting innocent and start arresting the Real criminals who are out of trained in NAGPUR....
Please chop his tool immediately, Na rahe ga bhans na bajege bansuri
This may be a fake news! For AUTHENTIC & CREDIBLE news, please check Notorious Coastal Kannada daily, sure this man had a challenge with his wife to molest the child, he did not have any bad intention as he is Deshpremi and proud son of Gomatha, and member of homo brigade. Before reaching the jail he might have secured bail.
Naren, which community does this bas...rd belongs to.... so don't ever target or point out particular religion and hurt the sentiments.
This is the true colour of these Gau Rakshaks
They don't respect women and yet talk of protecting animal
Eager to see if people from pump well ,kalladka and kotian stage protest
One more feather in the cap of so called Nationalists. Sad part is the law of the land turning blind, dumb and deaf towards these fringe organization. Its beyond ones imagination that why they are not yet banned.
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