K'taka polls: Moral setback for Kateel as BJP loses winnable seat in DK

Mangaluru: The BJP, which emerged victorious in 7 out of 8 seats in Dakshina Kannada during the 2018 elections lost another seat to Congress in the recent state assembly elections.

The defeat in Puttur gains significance as Independent candidate Arun Puthila who was formerly associated with the BJP gave a tough fight to Congress-winning candidate Ashok Kumar Rai thereby relegating BJP to the third position.

The decisions taken by State BJP President Nalin Kateel on ticket distribution paid off results in 2018 elections, but this time round, it seems to have failed with BJP winning in just 65 seats in the state as compared to 104 seats previously. Remarkably Kateel failed to deliver in his home district too.

It is said that the Puttur was a winnable seat for the BJP. Addressing the concerns of party workers, the high command denied a ticket to Sanjeeva Matandoor. However, there was discontent among cadres when the ticket was given to Sullia’s Asha Thimmappa Gowda instead of local Hindutva activist Arun Kumar Puthila. Reportedly the party president seemed to have ignored the simmering discontent.

However, the counting of votes on May 13 caused a moral setback for the BJP as it was relegated to the third position in the Puttur segment. Puthila on the other hand gave a close contest to Rai.

Earlier, Kateel had said that he will ensure BJP’s victory in Karnataka as his term as party president is coming to an end. However, the results might have left him disappointed.