With the help of the JD(S), the BJP could retain its power in the APMC in Chikmagalur on Saturday. BJP candidate Ninge Gowda won against Congress candidate Chandre Gowda with a margin of only one vote. Ninge Gowda was elected for the third time.
BJP had fielded only Ninge Gowda. Belavadi Ravindra proposed his name while Venkatesh supported his candidature. K P Rajendra proposed the name of Congress candidate Chandre Gowda.
The BJP had nine members and the Congress had four elected members and three nominated members. JD(S) has only one member.
The Congress had made all attempts to come to power in the APMC. As JD(S) played a vital role in the fate of the BJP candidate, the BJP could retain its power. In fact, APMC administration was a prestige issue for both the Congress and the BJP.
There was brisk activities in the BJP and the Congress for the last two days.
The Congress had sent BJP member Kanwar on tour and ensured that he could not take part in the election. BJP members Yogananda and Shanthakumar who had identified with the Congress in the last two days, returned back to their mother party and supported the candidature of the BJP. The BJP will continue Yogananda as its vice president.
Erappa Gowda, only member representing the JD(S) extended his support to the BJP.
Celebrations
As the BJP won the APMC election, there was celebrations among the party workers by bursting crackers and distributing sweets. MLA C T Ravi, leaders H D Thammaiah, Kote Ranganath, D K Ninge Gowda, Prem Kumar and others wished the newly elected president.
MLA C T Ravi said “the conspiracy of the Congress did not yield any results in the election. If the Congress had believed in the system of democracy, then they should not have contested the election.
With the help of money power, they had taken our members to their fold. But all their calculations failed to yield any results.” DCC President M L Murthy said “the BJP and the JD(S) had entered into an unholy alliance in the election. We did not have majority for winning the election.”
JD(S) leader H D Devaraj said “we did not support the BJP. As we had only one member, we had to exercise our franchise. Our member has exercised his franchise judiciously by supporting a person who has worked in the field.”