Dharwad: The much awaited by-election to the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat from Hebballi constituency on Sunday went on peacefully with a voting turnout of 65 per cent.
The by-election was held to fill the vacant seat of deceased BJP candidate Yogeeshgouda Goudar who was murdered on July 6 earlier this year. His widow Mallamma is the BJP candidate, while Channabasappa Matti is the Congress nominee. Rudrappa Hosur contested as JD(s) candidate.
The polling in 39 stations set up in 12 villages including Amminbhavi and Hebballi was brisk in the morning, and as the mercury level rose, the voter turnout slowed down.
Despite a ban on sale and consumption of liquor, the villagers came in to vote in ‘high spirits’ at Amminbhavi and other places. The drunken villagers belonging to rival parties were seen quarreling with each other at Amminbhavi.
Minister Vinay Kulkarni said that the development works taken up in rural districts will ensure the party’s victory in the ZP election. However, the BJP leaders claimed that the voters who had elected Yogeshgouda were hurt at his sudden demise and were sympathising with Mallamma who is the BJP candidate. Majority of the corporators of BJP campaigned for the party candidate in Hebballi constituency.
Minister Vinay toured the entire constituency continuously from morning to evening and monitored the process. For him, this has become a prestige issue as a favourable outcome could lead to the change of guard at the Dharwad Zilla Panchayat.
After the death of BJP candidate Yogeeshgouda, the tally in the 22-member House has come to 10-10 for both BJP and Congress, and one seat is held by Independent Shivanand Karigar. He had supported the BJP when the tally was 11-10 in favour of BJP, and had bagged the vice-president’s post. Now, if the Congress wins, it will try to woo Karigar and seek his support and take over the reins of ZP. If the BJP wins, it will continue to rule.
Meanwhile, polling was also held to the newly formed Chakalabbi Gram Panchayat in Kundgol taluk, and for one seat in Kalghatagi Town Panchayat on Sunday.
