Two months ahead of Assembly elections in Karnataka, BJP candidates scripted victories for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Kalaburagi Municipal Corporation. BJP's Vishal Dargi, representing ward number 46, and Shivanand Pisti, from ward number 25, were elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor, respectively.
BJP's Vishal Dargi got 33 votes while Congress's Prakash Kapanur got 32 votes. Shivanand Pisti, who contested for deputy mayor post, got 33 votes and Congress contender and his opponent Vijayalakshmi got 32 votes.
Earlier on Tuesday, the High Court of Karnataka in Kalaburagi rejected a plea that sought a stay order on the election process for Mayor and Deputy Mayor. The court struck down the plea stating that the process cannot be halted after the declaration of elections.
A Congress member of Kalaburagi Municipal Corporation, Varsha Jane, sought suspension of Mayoral polls from the court. She alleged that BJP has tried to capture power in the civic body through corruption.
The Congress is the single largest party followed by the BJP and Janata Dal (Secular) with 27, 23 and 4 seats, respectively.