Tanzeem backed candidate loses in Bhatkal; Independent Mankal Vaidya wins

Bhatkal, May 8: The result of Bhatkal assembly constituency in coastal district of Uttara Kannada was a shock for all prominent parties of the region. Independent candidate Mankal Vaidya han won the seat by a margin of 9,884 votes.

He secured 37,319 votes while Tanzeem backed JD(S) candidate Inayatullah Shabandri secured 27,435 votes. KJP candidate Shivanand Naik came next with 26,657 votes. JD Naik of Congress secured 21,766 votes and Govind Naik of BJP managed 14,791 votes.

Tanzeem

Majlis-e-Islah-o-Tanzeem, which has been contributing to the victory of the Congress in Bhatkal over the last 20 years has felt that the Congress has cheated the Minorities and had hence called upon the supporters to stand by the JD(S) candidate this time. As a reply to this the Muslim voters have cast 71 per cent of votes.

According to the Tanzeem, there are 47,000 Muslim voters out of which more than 28,000 votes have been cast.

By bagging about 27,435 votes, Tanzeem backed JD(S) candidate Inayatullah Shabandri has settled to second place. Shabhandri has bagged votes from voters of other community as well.

However, many in the constituency are of the opinion that so called leaders of the JD(S) have worked against Shabhandri.

Members of Tanzeem had worked hard to garner the number of votes just enough to defeat the Congress and the KJP.

Last elections, the Tanzeem had extended support to the Congress candidate. This time, the Tanzeem demanded ticket from the Congress for its candidates. When the Congress remained silent, the organization received ticket from the JD(S).

Many say that if the Congress had bowed down to the demand of the Tanzeem, then the party would have registered victory.

BJP retains only one seat

BJP, which had three MLAs in Uttara Knannada district, has retained only one constituency this time. Congress has secured three constituencies -Halyal, Yellapur and Kumta. Former minister and BJP MLA Anand Asnotikar has been defeated in Karwar by independent candidate Satish Sail.

Education Minister Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri is the lone BJP candidate in the district to retain his seat. He emerged victorious in Sirsi.

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