Karnataka - Belgaum   

MES-backed faction likely to emerge as single largest group

Belgaum: Marathi-speaking candidates supported by the Maharastra Ekikaran Samiti are likely to emerge as the single largest group in the 58-member Belgaum City Corporation.

At the end of counting of ballot papers for 40th ward at 8 p.m. here on Sunday, 24 candidates affiliated to the MES were declared elected.

Eight candidates fielded by the Sarvapaksha Sarvabhashik Chunavana Samiti (SSCS), floated by Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Janata Dal (Secular) to make a common cause with the Kannada-Urdu group, and eight independent candidates were declared elected.

Significantly, two former mayors, both MES followers, Shivaji Sunthakar and Vijay Pandurang More have lost the elections. Also, Sunil Kudachi, former deputy mayor and younger brother of Congress MLA Ramesh L. Kudachi, was rejected by the electorate.

There was anger among the candidates and the public, who were waiting for the outcome of the elections, over the “lethargic attitude” of the staff drafted for counting of votes.

The counting of ballot papers started at about 10:30 a.m. when the results from other cities and towns in the district and other parts of the State were being declared.

In the first stage, counting was taken up for 29 wards. The process of counting became slower in the afternoon session.

The Congress is all set to establish its control in at least eight of the 16 urban local bodies in the district, which went to polls on Friday.

The Janata Dal (Secular) has emerged as single largest group in four civic bodies.

The Congress has emerged as single largest group in town municipal councils in Sankeshwar, Saundatti, Kudachi and Ramdurg and Sadalga Town Panchayats. Independents affiliated to the party also emerged as single largest group in Gokak City Municipal Council, Chikodi TMC and Konnur Town Panchayat.

Besides Nipani CMC, the town panchayats of Mudalgi, Hukkeri and Raibag have gone in favour of Janata Dal (S).

The Bharatiya Janata Party faired poor in the entire district yet, emerged the biggest group in Athani and Bailhongal TMCs.

The Maharashtra Ekikaran Samithi supported candidates are likely to emerge as single largest group in Khanapur Town Panchayat.

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