Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Dec 30: The first election following Someshwar's transition from a gram panchayat to a town municipality saw the BJP securing a decisive win, with 16 candidates emerging victorious over their closest competitors.

The Congress secured seven seats, with BJP contesting in all 23 seats of the town municipality, while Congress contested in 22 seats. Notably, in the third Prakash Nagara Ward, where Congress supported a CPIM candidate, BJP emerged victorious.

The elections, held on December 27, witnessed 50 candidates vying for the 23 seats. Congress and BJP directly competed in 18 seats, with Congress supporting a CPIM candidate in one ward. Additionally, four wards featured candidates from CPIM, AAP, Social Welfare party, and independents.

In the 13th Kumpala ward, Congress candidate Deepak Pilar and BJP candidate Rajesh Kumar K S each garnered 247 votes, with Deepak Pilar winning the toss.

A unique scenario unfolded as a husband and wife contested in different wards under the Congress party banner. While Ameena Basheer triumphed in the First Mundoli ward, defeating Sunita Rajesh of BJP by 271 votes, her husband Basheer Mundoli, a former member of Someshwara gram panchayat, lost to BJP candidate Yashwant by just one vote in Prakash Nagara.

In a thrilling sibling contest in the third ward Laxmigudde Prakash Nagara, the younger sister, Swapna Shetty, emerged victorious on the BJP ticket, securing 340 votes. Her elder sister, Somya S Pilar, contested on a CPIM ticket with Congress support but received just 153 votes, resulting in a defeat by 183 votes to her younger sister.