The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the November 12 elections to the Council of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) by winning 44 wards out 60 wards in the intensely fought battle with the Congress at the home-turf of State BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel.
Congress, that was ruling the Council in the previous term with 35 wards, has won 14 wards this time while the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) that had won one ward in the previous polls, has added one more ward to its fold. JD(S), CPI and Independent, who represented two, one and one ward each in the last Council, did not win anything.
Counting of votes began at 8 a.m. at the Rosario School in Pandeshwar on Thursday. In all, 180 candidates contested the November 12 elections.
The 60 wards are spread over two assembly segments — Mangaluru City North (22 wards) and Mangaluru City South (38 wards) — represented by BJP MLAs Y. Bharath Shetty and D. Vedavyasa Kamath respectively. While Dr. Shetty got 20 wards out of 22 in his constituency into his kitty, Mr. Kamath got the balance 24 wards.
Prominent among the winners from Congress are Lancelot Pinto (Bejai), who has been in the Council ever since its formation in 1983, former Mayors M. Shashidhar Hegde (Derebail South), Bhaskar K (Padavu East) and Jacintha Alfred (Falnir). Prominent losers from the Party include former Mayor K Harinath (Marakada), former Deputy Mayor Prathibha Kulai (Idya West) food delivery executive Meghana Das (Mannagudda) and D.K. Ashok (Kadri South).
Prominent winners from BJP include Premananda Shetty (Mangaladevi), Sudhir Shetty Kannur (Kodialbail) and former Deputy Mayor Sumithra Kariya (Baikampady).
