Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate S.V. Sankanur has registered a win in the election to the Karnataka Legislative Council from West Graduates’ Constituency for the third time in row by defeating Congress candidate Mohan Limbikai by 9,323 votes.

The counting of votes for the biennial election, held at the University of Agricultural Sciences in Dharwad, began at 8 a.m. on October 27 and concluded at 2 a.m. on October 28.

Mr. Sankanur secured 33,711 first-preference votes, while Mr. Limbikai polled 24,388 votes. Independent candidate Kantakumar R. finished third with 4,055 votes.

The number of invalid votes 10,245 cast in the graduates constituency is more than the victory margin(9,323).

Mr. Mohan Limbikai, who, as a BJP candidate, snatched away the constituency from Congress by defeating former Minister H.K. Patil in 2008, was hoping to win it back for Congress this time, but failed.

The other candidates included independent Dr. G.H. Imrapur, who secured 338 votes; Umesh Krishnappa Daivajna, 228; Nishant Shankar Bankapur, 143; Krishna H. Balegar of the Karnataka Rashtra Samithi, 141; Abdul Mannan, 120; and Santosh Manohar Vernikar, 85. The remaining candidates polled fewer than 100 votes each. In all 14 candidates were in fray.

After first round of counting Prof Sankanur registered a lead 2,065 votes and it increased in the subsequent five rounds.

According to Returning Officer and Belagavi Regional Commissioner K.M. Janaki, who declared the result said that out of the 73,691 votes polled, 63,446 votes were declared valid and 10,245 were rejected. The counting process was completed peacefully, she said.