BJP wrests Banashankari ward from JD(S)

A H Basavaraj of the BJP managed to wrest the Banashankari Temple ward from the JD(S) in a closely-fought election, with a huge margin of 2,495 votes. He took oath on Wednesday afternoon at the BBMP Council.

Having bagged only 816 votes after the first round of counting, he was on the verge of losing for the second time in a year for a greater part of the counting.

However, he took the lead in the eighth round and won the elections. The resounding victory positions Basavaraj as a likely candidate for the Mayor’s post next year.

Basavaraj said: “I attribute this victory to our local MLA and Transport Minister R Ashoka.” When asked about the possibility of him being a candidate for the Mayor’s post next year, Basavaraj said it was left to the party leaders to take a decision. “Everything rests on our party leaders, K S Eshwarappa, R Ashoka and the Chief Minister, besides MLAs and corporators. I cannot comment on the issue now,” he said.

Basavaraj, who had lost to the Congress by a narrow margin in the BBMP polls in the Ganesha Mandira last year, was flooded with wishes from party workers. He was in a jubilant mood even before the final round of counting ended.

Little impact

The sympathy wave in favour of Mohammad Akbar (JD-S), the brother of slain corporator Mohammad Ali alias Diwan Ali, had little impact across the ward.

The split in minority votes between Ansar Pasha (Congress) and Mohammad Akbar may have led to the JD(S)’ defeat, it is said.

Though Akbar garnered more votes in the initial rounds of counting from Yarabnagar polling stations, he was routed completely in the eighth round. Akbar was pushed to the third place, with Ansar Pasha coming second.

Of the 12 candidates in the fray, only three candidates from the major parties were able to get their deposits back. Aphsar Khan had contested even while being lodged in the Bellary jail.

He is one of the prime suspects in the murder of Diwan Ali.