Karnataka Elections: IPS officer's wife creates history for Congress in Khanapur

The Congress party created history in Marathi-speaking Khanapur constituency in Belgaum district in the Karnataka assembly elections. Dr Anjali Nimbalkar, the wife of IPS officer Hemant Nimbalkar, won the constituency against BJP's Vittal Halagekar.

The Congress won the Khanapur constituency for the first time since the first assembly election in 1957. Anjali Nimbalkar polled 36649 votes against BJP's Vittal Halagekar who got 31516 votes. Bagwan Nasir Papulsab of Janata Dal (Secular) was pushed to third place with 27272 votes.

Dr Anjali's husband Hemant Nimbalkar IGP (economic offences) had served as Superintendent of Police in Belgaum district.

Independents have won the seat 8 times out of the 13 elections held. Since its first assembly election in 1957, the BJP had won the assembly only once in 2008.

In 2008, BJP's Pralhad Remani won comfortably against Rafique Khatalsab Khanapuri of Congress. However, in the next assembly election, Remani lost to Independent candidate Arvind Chandrakant Patil. Out of 13 elections, Congress was runner-up in seven elections. Here, independent candidates enjoy the support of Maharashtra Ekikarana Samiti which is not a recognized political party in Karnataka.

There are a total of 2,04,694 voters in the constituency that includes general voters, NRI voters and service voters. Amongst the general voters 1,05,247 are male, 98,211 female and 10 others. The electorate sex ratio in the constituency is 92.25 and the approximate literacy rate is 76 per cent.