Kateel scores hat-trick in DK

Nalin Kumar Kateel, the winning BJP candidate in Dakshina Kannada constituency got a share of 57.57% of the total votes in the Lok Sabha election that was held on April 18.

With this, Kateel has won a hat-trick victory in the constituency. Also, the BJP has won for the eighth consecutive time in Dakshina Kannada.

Kateel won with a margin of 2,74,621 votes against Congress candidate Mithun M Rai.

As many as 13,45,347 voters polled in the election. Of them, 7,74,285 voters polled for the BJP candidate.

His nearest rival Mithun Rai of the Congress, secured 4,99,664 votes. The total valid votes in the constituency is 13,37,659.

In the 2014 election, he got a share of 53.22% in the total votes polled by winning a margin of 1,43,709 votes.

Of the eight Assembly segments coming under the Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency, Sullia Assembly constituency gave a lead to the BJP candidate, with 47,159 votes.

The lead votes of the BJP candidate in different Assembly segments in the district include Moodbidri – 37,255; Mangaluru City North – 46,088; Mangaluru City South – 32,835; Bantwal – 32,063; Puttur – 44,599; and Belthangady – 44,760.

Congress candidate Mithun Rai led by 11,392 votes in only the Mangaluru Assembly constituency.

SDPI third

SDPI candidate Mohammed Eliyaz had to be content with the third position by securing 46,839 votes (3.48%).

The votes garnered by the other candidates are S Satish Salian (BSP) – 4,713 (0.35%); Vijay Sreenivas C (Uttama Prajakeeya Party) – 1,629 (0.12%); Supreeth Kumar Poojary (Hindustan Janata Party) – 948 (0.07%); Abdul Hameed (Ind) – 554 (0.04%); Alexander (Ind) – 2,752 (0.2%); Deepak Rajesh Coelho (Ind) – 748 (0.06%); Mohammed Khalid (Ind) – 602 (0.04%); Maxim Pinto (Ind) – 908 (0.07%); Venkatesh Bende (Ind) – 1,702 (0.13%); H Suresh Poojary (Ind) – 2,315 (0.17%).

‘Modi Tsunami’

Kateel, who addressed reporters outside the counting centre, said that the Modi wave of 2014 Lok Sabha election had become a ‘Modi tsunami’ in 2019 Lok Sabha election.

“Voters have supported the five years’ development works initiated by the NDA government in the election. They have proved that for the security of the country, development works, and for good administration, a government-led by Narendra Modi are need for the country,” he added.

Further, Kateel said that he was comfortable during this election when compared to previous election. “All the criticism by opponents against me especially with regard to the incomplete works on National Highway 66 and failure to complete the Pumpwell and Thokkottu flyovers did not have any impact on the poll results,” he added.

Kateel also said, “Voters have trusted me and the victory margin was beyond my expectations.”

Earlier in the day, Kateel had offered prayers at the Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple in Mangaluru.