Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Updated
Udupi, Apr 27: In a closely-fought battle, Congress came up triumphs in the first election to the newly-formed Kaup town municipal council (TMC), the counting for which was held at taluk panchayat office here on Wednesday April 27.
Until the last minute, both Congress and BJP were neck-and-neck, each winning 11 wards out of the 23. In the counting of the final ward of Ahmed Mohalla, Congress candidate Leela defeated BJP's Ratna by a margin of 300 votes to take Congress home. End of it, Congress won 12 seats as against BJP's 11.
The polling for the 23 wards of the TMC, comprising Kaup, Uliyargoli and Mallar, was held on April 24, and recorded a voter turnout of 75 percent.
As many as 58 candidates - 23 from Congress, 23 from BJP, 5 from JD(S), 4 from SDPI and 3 Independents - are in the fray.
In the first round of counting, Usman of Congress won in Koppalangady by garnering 277 votes. In Kaipunjal, BJP's Rama Y Shetty won 297 votes, defeating Reshma from Congress who got 278 votes. In Kotalkatte, Soumya of Congress won with 257 votes. In Dandateertha, BJP's Ramesh Hegde garnered 283 votes, defeating Divakar Shetty of Congress who got 231 votes. In Kalya, Congress candidate Suresh Devadiga defeated BJP's Ranjith by getting 275 votes. In Beedu Badi and Badagara Guthu too, Congress candidates Ashwini and Mohammed Imran, respectively, won, while BJP candidates Gulabi and Arun Shetty annexed Bharatnagar and Kombugudde wards, respectively. Congress candidate Malini defeated BJP's Vinoda in Chandrashale ward.
In Polipu, BJP's Vijaya Karkera with 357 votes defeated Congress candidate Lava Karkera who got 318 votes. In Gujji, Mohini of BJP won against Congress' Reshma by a margin of 55 votes. In Garadi, Congress candidate Shantalatha garnered 197 votes to defeat BJP's Surekha who got 131 votes. In Kaup Pete, BJP's Anil with 270 votes defeated Madhava of Congress who garnered 139 votes. In Light House ward, Mamatha of BJP who got 446 votes defeated Chandravati of Congress who got 359 votes. In Kudtimar also, Congress candidate Shabu Saheb of Congress defeated BJP's Sudhama.
Three other candidates from BJP, namely Shambhavi, Kiran and Sudha Ramesh have won, while Congress candidates Abdul Hameed (Mangalpete ward), Sulochana and Vijayalaxmi registered victories in their respective wards.
By 9.15 am, Congress and BJP had each won 10 seats.
Kaup Assembly constituency is represented by urban development minister and district in-charge Vinay Kumar Sorake.
Tight security was in place to ensure smooth counting.
Activists of different parties gathered at the counting centre. Soon after results were declared, celebrations erupted in the Congress camp.
The counting was supervised by the tahsildar.
Speaking to reporters later, Vinay Kumar Sorake said, "SDPI is a bit strong in Kaup, Uliyargoli and Mallar, but with this result, Congress has proved its power once again. We created awareness among the people on the development done by the Congress in the constituency, hence people chose us."
On the purpose of making Kaup a TMC, he said, "Kaup should become a central part of Udupi and people here should get all facilities. Development has not reached everyone here yet.
"The government has already allotted Kaup Rs 64 crore for drinking water facilities, Rs 34 crore for drainage work, Rs 8.5 crore for solid waste management and Rs 5 crore for setting up new TMC office. Entire Kaup will get LED bulbs. Funds have also been sanctioned for the development of a cemetry, ponds and park. Rs 3 crore has been allotted from CM's special fund for the development of approach roads," he added.
Hinting at former MP Jayaprakash Hegde who was ousted from Congress a few months ago and other opposition parties without naming anyone, Sorake said, "Negative propaganda by the opposition was also a reason for our win. When Kaup was declared as a TMC, the move was criticized and pamphlets were distributed stating that it was a bad decision. But people voted for development."
Asked whether there was possibility of Kaup becoming a taluk next, he said, "There is no such demand from the people. Some people want Brahmavar to become taluk but they are opposed to Kaup becoming one. We will considet it. We will hold an all-party meeting and submit a memorandum to the CM on this."
Advising the winning Congress candidates to work for the development of Kaup, he said, "I have been MLA of Kaup for three years and I have never indulged in divisive politics. We should all work together for development."
Former MLA Lalaji R Mendon of BJP alleged that Congress had won because of 'money power'. "The difference between victory and loss was a matter of just a few votes. Congress won because of money power. Earlier before the TMC was formed, BJP was in power in two gram panchayats and in coalition in another. We have given opportunities to minorities."
Asked whether the BJP would resort to Operation Kamala now to grab power in the Kaup TMC, he said, "We will discuss with party leaders and if needed, we are ready to do it. The post of TMC president has been reserved for a woman candidate, so let us wait and see."