Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Feb 5: BJP has succeeded in retaining the Belandurr zilla panchayat seat in the taluk. Its candidate, Pushpavathi Gowda Kaluvaje, succeeded in defeating Congress candidate, Bhagirathi K Gowda Kumbladi, by a margin of 3,520 votes. The margin of victory also has went up from 1,421 last time to 3,520 this bypoll, which was held on Sunday.

Out of 32 polling stations in this zilla panchayat, BJP was ahead in 28.The Congress candidate was supported by SDPI. This constituency was earlier represented by Savitri Shivaram, sister of union minister, D V Sadananda Gowda, Bypoll for this constituency was necessitated on account of the demise of Savitri.

Some analyze that replacement of block Congress president here, Hemanath Shetty, with Fazal Raheem, a day before the polling, would have worked to the disadvantage of Congress party.

As soon as the result was declared, BJP activists celebrated the victory at Savanur town. Zilla panchayat president, Asha Thimmappa Gowda, taluk panchayat president, Pulasya Rai, and other leaders, who were at the counting centre at Vivekananda College, also celebrated the victory.