Inayatullah gets JD(S) ticket

Bhatkal - Finally, it's official. Inayatullah Shabandri will contest the upcoming elections as a candidate for the Janta Dal Secular (JDS) party. His nomination was announced on Friday in the first list unveiled by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda in Bangalore which included 122 names. The announcement puts a seal of approval over Majlise Islah O Tanzeem's decision to support Inayatullah in the elections, and the ground work is now expected to set in motion. Speaking with Bhatkallys.com, Inayatullah said, "I look forward to the support of the entire Bhatkalli community and we have to work united over the next few days." In the outgoing 224-member Assembly, the BJP has a strength of 104, followed by the Congress 71, JDS 25, while there are 16 vacancies, caused largely by those from the ruling party shifting their loyalty to the KJP.