The election mood has taken over coastal Karnataka as the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the by-election date for the Dakshina Kannada Local Authorities’ Constituency. The ECI declared on Thursday that voting will be held on October 21, with counting on October 24, officially kicking off the battle between BJP and Congress. The election comes after the resignation of BJP's Kota Srinivas Poojary, who vacated the seat following his election to Parliament.
The Dakshina Kannada Local Authorities’ Constituency comprises two seats, one each held by the Congress and BJP. Notably, the seat that Poojary represented was originally held by Congress before the BJP gained a strong foothold in the local bodies. Poojary first entered the Legislative Council during the by-election in 2008, after the seat fell vacant due to the death of Congress leader Blasius M’Douza.
Poojary went on to cement BJP's foothold, representing the constituency for over a decade and a half and serving as both Leader of Opposition and a Cabinet Minister during his tenure as an MLC. With the election schedule now set, political activity has intensified within both Congress and BJP camps. While the BJP is confident of retaining the seat, Congress is determined to wrest it back from the ruling party.
The electorate for this constituency consists of members from Panchayats, Municipalities, and City Corporations in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada districts. According to BJP insiders, of the about 7,000 el.