Candidates claim tampering of votes in PLD Bank elections in Bhatkal; complaint filed against election officer

Bhatkal 23 August 2018: ((Bhatkallys News Bureau) Following the elections of Janata co-operative bank and PLD bank, the Congress and BJP won the majority of seats in the elections respectively. But on Wednesday 22 August, when some of the candidates who had contested PLD Bank elections noticed the election officer inside the bank with other employees despite it being a government holiday for Bakrid, the candidates protested outside the bank alleging him to be tempering the details of voters to temper with the results with the help of fake votes. The losing candidates had earlier demanded the details of voters after the election which was declined by the bank authorities, upon noticing election officer Bhaskar Naik with other employees inside the bank on government holiday, the candidates suspected tempering of votes and protested against Bhaskar Naik. However, CPI KL Ganesh and other police personnel rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Later, The defeated candidate Ramakrishna Madev Naik registered a complaint at Bhatkal town police station against the Election Officer Bhaskar Naik, for his alleged involvement in tampering the fake voters details of PLD bank election. Speaking to the media in the backdrop of the whole episode, Election Officer Baskhar Naik said “We had to elect President and Vice President from the 15 member that won the elections and had to submit it to the higher authorities in Karwar, so we had to work overtime in this regard, that what is misunderstood as tempering of votes by these men". Venkatesh Naik, Ramakrishna Naik, Ganapati naik, Mukunda naik, Devidas Naik, Keshav Naik, Satish Naik, Eshwar Naik, Ramesh Naik and others shareholders of the bank were present during the protest. (Bhatkallys News Bureau/ Fristen Dias/ Rizwan Gangavali)