BJP wins Dakshina Kannada LS seat yet again

BJP wins Dakshina Kannada LS seat yet again

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, May 16, 2014: After the end of counting in 1,766 booths in Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency on Friday, the BJP candidate, Nalin Kumar Kateel, registered a lead of 1,43,709 votes. With this, BJP has retained its most prestigious Dakshina Kannada constituency once again.


Nalin Kumar secured 6,42,739 votes while Poojari could secure only 4,99,030 votes.  AAP candidate MR Vasudeva could manage to secure just 5442 votes  while SDPI candidate Haneef Khan garnered 27254 votes. Nalin Kumar Kateel had maintained a lead in all Assembly segments from the first round in Mangalore North, Mangalore South, Mangalore, Belthangady, Moodbidri, Bantwal, Puttur and Sullia.

 

The Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner, AB Ibrahim, is seen handing over a bouquet to the MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, after declaring him the winner.

He had defeated Congress candidate B. Janardhana Poojary by a margin of 40,420 votes in the 2009 LS elections. Mr. Poojary, who represented the constituency in the Lok Sabha for five times from 1977 to 1991 and had served as Union Minister of State for Finance, had to bite the dust for the fifth time on his ninth appearance in parliamentary elections. The Congress has not been able to regain the constituency since 1991. In the run up to the election, the party functionaries believed that they had come closest to wresting it back this time. But the party proved to be no match to the hard work and planning of the BJP at the grassroots. The BJP had completed one round of campaigning even before the Congress could announce its candidate.

Speaking to media persons, Nalin Kumar said, ‘I thank the people for their wholehearted support.  I expected to win with a margin of 50,000 votes,’ said Nalin.

Nalin further said, ‘I will make DK, Number 1 district in the state with all round development.  I will not allow Yettinahole project to come up.  I will try to solve the problem of drinking water and provide all the basic facilities.  The highway work will be executed at the earliest, the environment will also be taken care along with beautification of the district,’ said Nalin.