BJP sweeps ULB polls in Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga

Mysuru, Nov 14: In Birur town municipal council in Chikkamagaluru, BJP emerged as the single largest party while in Kargal town panchayat in Shivamogga the saffron party secured a majority in the ULB elections, the results of which were announced on Thursday.

The lowest margin of victory was reported in ward number 22 of Birur where Congress candidate won by just two votes against his BJP rival. In both places, Congress was in power until now. Congress won the Haradanahalli ZP segment while its supporters have performed well in GP bypolls.

In 23 wards in Biruru TMC, BJP secured 10 seats followed by Congress which won 9 seats. JD(S) and independents secured two seats each.

In ward no. 16, BJP candidate Meenakshamma was elected unanimously.

In the previous term, BJP had nine members, Congress 11 members while two members belonged to JD(S). Two independents and one KJP member were also elected in the previous term. Congress and JD(S) are likely to join hands in the council to keep BJP away from power with the help of independents.

In the previous term, BJP and Congress were in power for 30 months each. In the first two and a half years, Congress ruled the council. But in the second term, BJP was able to win the president and vice-president posts with the help of JD(S), independents and the rebel Congress members.

The biggest victory margin was reported from ward no. 1 where BJP candidate MP Sudarshan defeated his nearest Congress candidate by a margin of 457 votes. The lowest victory margin was two votes reported from ward no. 22. In this ward, Congress candidate Ravi Kumar defeated his BJP rival Pojari Ramesha by two votes.

In the Chamarajanagar district, Congress gained an upper hand. In Kollegal CMC, Congress won in the by-election held for the ward no. 19. Party candidate Suma defeated her nearest candidate by 173 votes.

BSP suffered a humiliation in this election with its candidate Manjula receiving just five votes. Recently party had expelled the local MLA N Mahesh from the party.

In Haradanahalli ZP byelection, Congress candidate Ramesh won.

In Shivamogga, out of 11 wards, BJP won nine seats while Congress was able to secure just one seat. A rebel BJP candidate won in another ward.

In the previous term (2014-19), Congress was in power. It has been reduced from seven seats in 2014 to just one seat now.