Kalasa-Banduri effect: highest NOTA votes cast in Belagavi ZP

BELAGAVI: Maybe, it’s a effect of call given by Kalasa-Banduri Malaprabha Yuva Horata Kendra Samiti (KBMYHKS) and many other farmer leaders - as many as 28, 033 voters of the district have used their franchise to none of the above (NOTA) in ZP elections.
Interestingly, NOTA votes have crossed four digit number in all 10 taluks.
The highest NOTA votes, 3,609, were cast in Gokak taluk and the least 1,929 at Raibag.NOTA cast in other taluks are as follows - Chikkodi- 3,494, Belagavi- 3,290, Hukkeri- 3,085, Bailhongal- 2,859, Khanapur- 2,752, Savadatti- 2,611, Athani- 2214, Ramdurg- 2,196.
KBMYHKS headed by Vijay Kulkarni had held press conferences in all four districts – Belagavi, Gadad, Begalkot and Dharwad of North-Karnataka concerned to Kalasa-Banduri projects in this regard and also created awareness among farmers by distributing thousands of pamphlets.
Samiti had urged farmers to reject the candidates of political parties by casting votes on NOTA in reply to negligence of political leaders towards Kalasa-Banduri project.
ZP turned launch pad for second generation of politicians: Several heavyweight politicians this time fielded their close relatives including sons, daughters and daughter-in-laws eying on ZP president posts, which would be the cabinet level berth and for complete next five years following the recent amendments brought by state government.
Pranay Vivekrao Patil and his wife Gargi Pranay Patil from Raibag (Rural) and Alagawadi ZP constituencies respectively in Raibag taluk got elected with handsome margin of votes. Both are son and daughter-in-law of MLC Vivekrao Patil respectively. Gargy became victorious against Purnima Patil, daughter of former MP Amarsingh Patil. Interestingly, Vivekarao and Amarsingh are brothers.
Fight between sons of two former ministers Umesh Katti and AB Patil in Ammanagi constituency of Hukkeri taluk turned neck and neck. Finally, BJP’s Nikhil Katti became victorious with 1,324 votes margin against Vinay Patil of Congress. Meanwhile, Pawan Katti, son of Umesh Katti’s brother and former MP Ramesh Katti won with handsome margin of over 5,000 votes against Rajiv Patil, son of prominent leader DT Patil at Nagarmunnoli ZP constituency in Chikkodi taluk.
MES lost Yallur: In Belagavi taluk, Maharastra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) supported candidates face huge setback and bigger setback is losing of Yallur ZP seat to the Ramesh Goral of Congress. Yallur is known with controversy of signboard with script of ‘Yallur part of Maharashtra’, which was removed by the district administration two years ago. Yallur is considered to be the inspirational to MES in the fight of border dispute. Since beginning, MES supported ZP candidate used to win this seat but this time situation changed first time.