Mangalore: Like a sinking person catching hold of a piece of wood in flood waters to survive, the DKCC celebrated its victory with a punch on the face of BJP, in a ward by-poll of city corporation in Tiruvail(ward) on Friday, January 13.

DKCC Chief and MLA in Bantwal, B. Ramanath Rai was quite happy ever the turning point, which did not give any majority to his party in MCC for that matter, and told a meeting that the victory in MCC by-poll sent a strong message to the meeting that the victory in MCC by-poll sent a strong message to the ruling BJP, steeped in corruption and neglecting road repairs in DK district, even after CM had issued instructions to take up and complete repairs to smaller roads in his (CM’s) home-city within 15 days, well before National Youth Festival started near MCC.

Congress backed candidate Meera Ashok secured 1830 votes to defeat BJP’S Hemlata R. Salian by 463 votes as an January 10, with result announced 3 days later. The seat fell vacant when BJP backed Independent corporator in 2009 resigned recently (Jyothi Jayaprakash).