Bangalore: KPCC Gen Secretary Ivan D’Souza becomes Congress MLC

By Special Correspondent

Bangalore, 25 Jun 2014: KPCC general secretary from Dakshina Kannada Ivan D’Souza has finally managed to get his name included in the list of five slots for nominations to the Karnataka Legislative Council and the list submitted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the State Governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj has been cleared.

 

 

Though official announcement regarding the approval of the names submitted by the Chief Minister is yet to be received from Raj Bhavan, informed sources said the Governor has cleared the list.
 
The other four persons whose names figure in the list for nominations is V S Ugrappa, Iqbal Ahamed Sardagi, Abdul Jabbar and Jayamala, informed the sources.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had reportedly favoured labour leader Shantha Kumar, who belongs to the Protestant Christians. But Congress leaders prevailed upon the chief minister to include Ivan D’Souza’s name.

Meanwhile, JD(S) has bagged two seats while Congress and BJP have won one each in the biennial elections to the Legislative Council from the Teachers and Graduates Constituencies for the four seats, the counting for which was held today.

 

The elections to the four seats to the Legislative Council were held on June 20.

 

Sitting JD(S) member Puttanna and newcomer Chowda Reddy emerged victorious in Bangalore Teachers’ and South-East Graduates constituencies respectively.

 

Sharanappa Mattur of the Congress and S V Sanknur of the BJP declared elected from North-East Teachers’ and West Graduates constituencies, respectively.

 

Opposition BJP relied upon continuation of Modi wave in Legislative Council elections too.

 

In spite of organized campaign of party leaders including three Union ministers party has retained one seat out of three seats which won in 2008 elections.

 

The BJP managed to retain Karnataka West Graduate Constituency. Party candidate Professor S V Sankanuru has won by defeating JD(S) candidate Vasanth Horatti.

 

BJP chief whip in the Council Dr K H Shivayogiswamy was defeated by JD(S) candidate Chowda Reddy in Karnataka South-East Graduate Constituency.

 

Shashil Namoshi was defeated by Congress candidate to Sharanappa Mattur in Karnataka North-East Teachers’ Constituency while another BJP candidate Neelaiah was defeated by JD(S) candidate Puttanna in Bengaluru Teachers’ Constituency.

 

Puttanna has won by an impressive margin of 8,000 votes and this was his third consecutive victory.

 

Defeat of Namoshi and Dr Shivayogiswamy was unexpected to BJP leadership. Though party has no base in Karnataka South East Graduates Constituency, it had hopes that good beginning of Modi government would help in the elections.