BJP supersedes Congress in Puttur TMC : Grabs both top posts

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, Sep 12, 2013 : The election to the post of President and Vice President of Puttur TMC on September 11, Wednesday turned interesting with rebel Congress candidate Vani Sridhar emerging victorious  with the support of BJP members.

Jeevandhar Jain of BJP has been elected the Vice President.

With the election of rebel Congress candidate as the TMC President,  it is evident that the BJP leaders of the town have once again embarked upon Operation Lotus. The Congress has suffered a great setback in the elections with its official candidate Mohammad Ali suffering a defeat.

In  the 26 member house, the Congress has 14 members and BJP 12 members. If rebel Congress candidate Vani Sridhar secured 15 votes including 12 votes of the BJP and also the votes of the MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLC DV Sadananda Gowda,  Mohammad Ali got just 14 votes including 13  votes of Congress members and another vote of the MLA.

In the election to the post of Vice President, Jeevandhar of BJP got 16 votes, while Rekha Yashodhar of Congress earned  14 votes.

Though the Congress had won a total of 15 seats in the elections, its strength reduced to 14 after one of its members Leena Mascarenhas died in a road mishap.

The Congress had chosen Mohammad Ali, a senior member as its candidate despite hectic lobbying by Vani Sridhar too. The party had also issued a whip to vote for Ali. But, in another development, the BJP was successful in drawing Vani Sridhar towards it with the intervention of former CM DV Sadananda Gowda.

Commenting on the BJP’s support to Vani Sridhar, DVS said the party decided to support her after she approached the party and added that there was no question of foul play. He said the party decided to support her just for the reason that she was a woman.

Puttur MLA Shakuntala Shetty meanwhile has blamed the BJP for resorting to Operation Lotus and deprive Congress  of taking over the reigns of power in the TMC.