Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 24: Irrespective of the fact that ex-chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and his father and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda have not been leaving any stone unturned to project the BJP in poor light, the party appears to be going strong with its alliance with the party it has branded as 'communal' at the taluk and district levels.

At the election held for the post of the taluk panchayat (TP) presidentship here on Tuesday September 23, Vajrakshi P Shetty from the BJP was elected. She defeated the Congress candidate Sujata Moolya by a single vote. Vajrakshi represents Chelairu TP constituency. She takes over from Shriyala J Hegde from the JD (S), as per the agreement entered into between the parties for sharing of power. The CPI (M) supported the Congress candidate.

Assistant commissioner Prabhulinga Kavalikatti functioned as returning officer. The post of the vice-president will now go to the JD (S) as per the agreement. To facilitate this, Suresh from the BJP has resigned from the post of the TP vice-president. Election will soon be held to fill up the vacancy.

While the BJP enjoys a membership strength of 15 in the taluk panchayath, JD (S) has four members, Congress 16 and CPI (M) two.