Bhatkal Assembly constituency

Bhatkal
Constituency No. 79 for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly
Constituency details
CountryIndia
RegionSouth India
StateKarnataka
DistrictUttara Kannada
Lok Sabha constituencyUttara Kannada
Established1966
Total electors222,794
ReservationNone
Member of Legislative Assembly
16th Karnataka Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
PartyIndian National Congress
Elected year2023
Preceded bySunil Biliya Naik

Bhatkal Assembly constituency is one of the 224 Legislative Assembly constituencies of Karnataka in India. It is part of Uttara Kannada district.

The constituency is infamous for Communal tensions due to notable presence of Hindutva groups and Islamic fundamentalism.

In April 10, 1996 a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly from this constituency was assassinated by gunfire.

Electorate

The constituency has around 2.15 lakhs votes. Nearly 1.6 lakh voters i.e. more than 70% of vote base are Hindus, followed by Muslims at nearly 55,000 who are 25.4% and Christians at 7300 forming 3.4% of the electorate. Among Hindu vote base the single major group is Namdharis constituting about 70,000 votes. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes forms 10.1% of the electorate with nearly 22,000 votes.

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Election Member Party
1967J. M. ManjanathPraja Socialist Party
1972Siddiq Mohamed Yahya Bin UmerIndian National Congress
1978Indian National Congress
1983Rama Narayan NaikJanata Party
1985
1989Indian National Congress
1994Dr. U. ChittaranjanBharatiya Janata Party
1996 By-electionShivanand Naik
1999J. D. NaikIndian National Congress
2004Shivanand NaikBharatiya Janata Party
2008J. D. NaikIndian National Congress
2013Mankala VaidyaIndependent politician
2018Sunil Biliya NaikBharatiya Janata Party
2023Mankala VaidyaIndian National Congress

Election results

Assembly Election 2023

2023 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Mankala Vaidya 100,442 57.45% Increase10.89
BJP Sunil Biliya Naik 67,771 38.76% Decrease11.38
JD(S) Nagendra Naik 1,502 0.86% New
NOTA None of the above 1,223 0.70% Decrease0.50
Margin of victory 32,671 18.69% Increase15.12
Turnout 175,090 78.59% Increase1.24
Total valid votes 174,848
Registered electors 222,794 Increase3.75
INC gain from BJP Swing Increase7.31

Assembly Election 2018

2018 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Sunil Biliya Naik 83,172 50.14% Increase38.87
INC Mankal Vaidya 77,242 46.56% Increase29.97
NOTA None of the above 1,986 1.20% New
AIMEP Gafoor Sab 1,446 0.87% New
Margin of victory 5,930 3.57% Decrease3.96
Turnout 166,100 77.35% Increase6.38
Total valid votes 165,886
Registered electors 214,750 Increase13.23
BJP gain from Independent Swing Increase21.69

Assembly Election 2013

2013 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Mankala Vaidya 37,319 28.45% New
JD(S) Enayathullah Shabandri 27,435 20.91% Increase17.07
KJP Shivanand Naik 26,657 20.32% New
INC J. D. Naik 21,766 16.59% Decrease28.13
BJP Govinda Jattappa Naik 14,791 11.27% Decrease22.37
Independent Bhushan Naik 2,571 1.96% New
Independent Mulla Nadeem Ahmed 1,285 0.98% New
Independent Kumar Nagappa Heble 1,047 0.80% New
BSP Hosad Santosh Hanumant Prabhu 902 0.69% Decrease0.62
Margin of victory 9,884 7.53% Decrease3.56
Turnout 134,596 70.97% Increase7.49
Total valid votes 131,191
Registered electors 189,664 Increase9.66
Independent gain from INC Swing Decrease16.27

Assembly Election 2008

2008 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC J. D. Naik 49,079 44.72% Increase4.02
BJP Naik Shivananda Narayana 36,913 33.64% Decrease11.07
SP Yashodhara Ganapa Naik 12,538 11.43% New
JD(S) Naik Parameshwar Tippayya 4,211 3.84% Decrease5.14
Independent Bhushan Naik 2,946 2.68% New
Independent S. M. Zakriya 1,437 1.31% New
BSP Santosha Hanumantha Prabhu 1,437 1.31% New
Rashtriya Hindustan Sena Karnataka Shetty Girish Lokeshwar 1,179 1.07% New
Margin of victory 12,166 11.09% Increase7.08
Turnout 109,792 63.48% Decrease1.14
Total valid votes 109,740
Registered electors 172,949 Increase7.52
INC gain from BJP Swing Increase0.01

Assembly Election 2004

2004 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Shivanand Naik 46,471 44.71% Increase0.42
INC J. D. Naik 42,301 40.70% Decrease6.32
JD(S) Yashodhar Naik 9,333 8.98% Increase0.29
JP Prof Tanaveer Asif Zerdi 2,774 2.67% New
Independent Hegde Shripad Narayan 2,045 1.97% New
Independent Bhushan K. R 1,016 0.98% New
Margin of victory 4,170 4.01% Increase1.28
Turnout 103,940 64.62% Decrease0.21
Total valid votes 103,940
Registered electors 160,852 Increase12.09
BJP gain from INC Swing Decrease2.31

Assembly Election 1999

1999 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC J. D. Naik 42,004 47.02% Increase39.82
BJP Shivanand Naik 39,567 44.29% Decrease12.01
JD(S) Rama Narayan Naik 7,763 8.69% New
Margin of victory 2,437 2.73% Decrease18.53
Turnout 93,043 64.83% Increase4.40
Total valid votes 89,334
Rejected ballots 3,698 3.97% Increase1.87
Registered electors 143,508 Increase3.54
INC gain from BJP Swing Decrease9.28

Assembly By-election 1996

1996 Karnataka Legislative Assembly by-election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Shivanand Naik 46,145 56.30% Increase5.75
JD Naik Damodar Gardikar 28,718 35.04% Increase22.94
INC M. S. Naik 5,904 7.20% Decrease18.39
Independent I. M. Rizwan 1,202 1.47% New
Margin of victory 17,427 21.26% Decrease3.71
Turnout 83,754 60.43% Decrease8.92
Total valid votes 81,969
Rejected ballots 1,762 2.10% Increase0.08
Registered electors 138,606 Increase5.09
BJP hold Swing Increase5.75

Assembly Election 1994

1994 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
BJP Dr. U. Chittaranjan 45,308 50.55% Increase44.57
INC Naik Laxmi Manjappa 22,931 25.59% Decrease13.84
JD Gouda Shambu Narayan 10,843 12.10% Decrease24.54
INC Laxman. S. Naik 9,600 10.71% New
SP Lalita. G. Hegde 941 1.05% New
Margin of victory 22,377 24.97% Increase22.17
Turnout 91,470 69.35% Increase5.80
Total valid votes 89,623
Rejected ballots 1,846 2.02% Decrease5.22
Registered electors 131,889 Increase3.88
BJP gain from INC Swing Increase11.12

Assembly Election 1989

1989 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Rama Narayan Naik 29,513 39.43% Increase15.13
JD Gardikar Damodar Narayan 27,421 36.64% New
JP Gouda Shambu Narayan 8,529 11.40% New
Independent Victor Rodrigues 4,508 6.02% New
BJP Gajanan Parameshwar Naik 4,473 5.98% Decrease14.09
Margin of victory 2,092 2.80% Decrease15.97
Turnout 80,680 63.55% Increase1.25
Total valid votes 74,840
Rejected ballots 5,840 7.24% Increase5.10
Registered electors 126,957 Increase35.39
INC gain from JP Swing Decrease3.64

Assembly Election 1985

1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
JP Rama Narayan Naik 24,621 43.07% Decrease8.98
INC Gouda Shambu Narayan 13,890 24.30% Decrease23.65
BJP Madhav Rama Naik 11,471 20.07% New
Independent Uppur Chitttranjan 5,815 10.17% New
Independent Devadiga Annappa Bhaira 1,369 2.39% New
Margin of victory 10,731 18.77% Increase14.67
Turnout 58,418 62.30% Decrease7.30
Total valid votes 57,166
Rejected ballots 1,252 2.14% Decrease1.08
Registered electors 93,768 Increase9.15
JP hold Swing Decrease8.98

Assembly Election 1983

1983 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
JP Rama Narayan Naik 30,119 52.05% Increase11.67
INC S. M. Yahya Siddika Umar 27,746 47.95% Increase42.72
Margin of victory 2,373 4.10% Decrease9.91
Turnout 59,790 69.60% Decrease4.86
Total valid votes 57,865
Rejected ballots 1,925 3.22% Increase0.42
Registered electors 85,909 Increase9.79
JP gain from INC(I) Swing Decrease2.34

Assembly Election 1978

1978 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC(I) Siddiq Mohamed Yahya Bin Umer 30,800 54.39% New
JP Dr. U. Chittaranjan 22,867 40.38% New
INC Naik Vasantrao Ganap 2,961 5.23% Decrease50.71
Margin of victory 7,933 14.01% Decrease7.32
Turnout 58,258 74.46% Increase12.52
Total valid votes 56,628
Rejected ballots 1,630 2.80% Increase2.80
Registered electors 78,245 Increase15.19
INC(I) gain from INC Swing Decrease1.55

Assembly Election 1972

1972 Mysore State Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC S. M. Yahya Siddika Umar 22,751 55.94% Increase24.94
INC(O) Madev Bin Rama Naik 14,074 34.60% New
Independent Lakkumane Rama Shivappa 2,686 6.60% New
ABJS Honnappa Devu Naik 1,162 2.86% New
Margin of victory 8,677 21.33% Decrease3.64
Turnout 42,074 61.94% Increase8.76
Total valid votes 40,673
Registered electors 67,927 Increase8.68
INC gain from PSP Swing Decrease0.03

Assembly Election 1967

1967 Mysore State Legislative Assembly election : Bhatkal
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PSP J. M. Manjanath 16,655 55.97% New
INC H. R. Suraya 9,224 31.00% New
SWA H. A. H. A. Saheb 3,876 13.03% New
Margin of victory 7,431 24.97%
Turnout 33,241 53.18%
Total valid votes 29,755
Registered electors 62,501
PSP win (new seat)

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election - 2023". eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  2. ↑ "Karnataka Loksabha Elections - 2019 - Voters Count" (PDF). ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "From communal harmony to terror infamy: How Bhatkal became a constant on intel agencies' radar". Hindustan Times. 19 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Offensive charm". Telegraph.
  5. ↑ Dev, Arun (10 March 2018). "The Forgotten Political Murder That Changed Bhatkal's Fate Forever". TheQuint. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  6. ↑ Nanjappa, Vicky. "How placid Bhatkal turned into a communal hotspot". Rediff. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  7. ↑ "Karnataka polls: In 'terror-tainted' Bhatkal, Hindu-Muslim divide polarises voters as well as decides candidates". Firstpost. 6 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: Bhatkal". Election Commission of India. 13 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 April 2025. Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  9. ↑ "Karnataka Legislative Assembly Election - 2018". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2013 : To the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). eci.nic.in. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  11. ↑ "General Election Karnataka Legislative Assembly 2008 Election Statistics" (PDF). Government of Karnataka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2021.
  12. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 2004 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.
  13. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1999 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.
  14. ↑ "Bye Elections - 1996 - Election Commission of India". old.eci.gov.in. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  15. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1994 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.
  16. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1989 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 7 October 2010.
  17. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1985 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.
  18. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1983 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 7 October 2010.
  19. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1978 to the Legislative Assembly of Karnataka" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 7 October 2010.
  20. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1972 to the Legislative Assembly of Mysore" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.
  21. ↑ "Statistical Report on General Election, 1967 to the Legislative Assembly of Mysore" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (pdf) on 6 October 2010.

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