Congress Retains Davangere South Seat Amid Muslim Scare
Defeated BJP nominee Shrinivas Dasakariyappa “If Congress party had initiated development in the seat then all 1.58 lakh would have gone to the party nominee.
BENGALURU: Congress nominee Samarth Mallikarjun survived Muslim scare to retain Davangere South Assembly seat in the by-poll held for the seat after the demise of his grandfather Shamanur Shivashankarappa who earlier represented the seat prior to his death in last December. His father S.S. Mallikarjun is the Minister for Mines and Geology and his mother Prabha represents Davangere Lok Sabha seat.
In the counting of votes held on Monday, Samarth polled 69,578 votes to win the seat against his nearest rival Bharatiya Janata Party’s Shrinivas Dasakariyappa 63,870 by a margin of 5708 votes. Afsar Kodlipete, nominee of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) polled 18, 975 votes.
Over Congress nominee winning by slender margin, president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar told reporters “There has been a major shift in votes in Davangere South seat and the votes have been casted in favour of SDPI nominee.” He stated to initiate measures to rectify.
It may be recalled here Minority leaders were miffed at Congress party over the decision to turn down fielding a Muslim candidate in Davangere South seat and Muslim community leaders are alleged to have worked for SDPI nominee Afsar Kodlipete.
Owing to some party leaders not working for Congress nominee, MLC Abdul Jabbar was removed from primary membership while MLC Naseer Ahmed was sacked as CM’s political secretary. Some other Minority leaders also faced action from the Congress party.
Defeated BJP nominee Shrinivas Dasakariyappa “If Congress party had initiated development in the seat then all 1.58 lakh would have gone to the party nominee.” He alleged Congress nominee won the by-poll through distribution of money to cast their votes in favour of Samarth.
