Mangaluru : The BJP has retained its seat in the by-election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from Dakshina Kannada Local Authorities’ constituency, which also covers Udupi district.

The by-election to the dual member constituency was held on October 21. There were four candidates in the fray. The counting of votes was done on October 24.

In the result declared by the Returning Officer and the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada M. P. Mullai Muhilan, the BJP candidate Kishore B. R., who bagged 3,655 votes, was declared the winner.

Raju Poojary of the Congress secured 1, 958 votes, Anwar Sadath Bajathur of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) polled 195 votes, and Dinakar Ullal, an independent candidate, secured nine votes.

There were a total 6,032 electors. Of total 5,907 votes polled in 392 polling stations, 90 votes were declared invalid.

Mr. Kishore is one of the general secretaries of Dakshina Kannada unit of the BJP.

Born on May 2, 1979, Mr. Kishore is a resident of Botyadi House in Puttur, Dakshina Kannada district. He belongs to the Bhandari community (or Savitha Samaja).

He holds a post-graduate degree in Political Science. He has been an active member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from a very young age. He was active in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat and was the Mangaluru division co-convener of the Bajrang Dal before becoming BJP Dakshina Kannada district Yuva Morcha president and later State vice-president.