Bantwal: The administration-level election of the Primary Cooperative Agriculture and Rural Development Bank witnessed high drama when a fight between the Congress and BJP members literally brought the election process to a halt sometime on Saturday, January 25.
The election for 12 out of 13 posts was held at the Mini Vidhana Soudha located at B C Road. Confusions in the voters’ list was observed and in this connection, arguments led to a verbal spat and finally, physical assault between the two groups. A group of people, who were allies of BJP MLA Rajesh Naik and former minister and Congress leader Ramanath Rai, gathered in large numbers. Bantwal Circle Inspector T D Nagaraj had to intervene and disperse the gathering. In order to control the situation, Section 144 was clamped in the Mini Vidhana Soudha’s vicinity.
The electoral process, which was stopped for 45 minutes, resumed after Tahsildar (electoral officer) Rashmi S R announced the process.
The rest of the election process continued till evening in a peaceful manner.
As per the results, BJP won seven of the 13 seats and assumed power. Later, the party workers celebrated the occasion along with MLA Rajesh Naik.
