Mansoor loses photo finish against Mohan

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Congress candidate Mansoor Ali Khan lost the Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 32,707 votes in the final round of counting, almost toppling BJP incumbent PC Mohan, who will now serve his fourth term.

It was widely believed that Congress stood its best chance in Bangalore Central of the three seats in the city. BJP man Mohan had been trailing by more than 50,000 votes in the early afternoon.

The saffron party candidate polled 6,58,915 votes compared to Mansoor Ali Khan’s 6,26,208. For instance, Assembly segments held by the BJP backed Mohan heavily, swinging the seat in his favour at the eleventh hour.

The saffron party candidate polled 75,917 votes in Rajajinagar compared to Mansoor’s 36,488. That alone is a difference of 39,429 votes in the BJP man’s favour.

Something similar was seen in Mahadevapura where Mohan gained 2,29,632 against Mansoor’s 1,15,586. The BJP MP also gathered 73,460 votes in CV Raman Nagar compared to 53,346 for the Congressman.

Moreover, Mohan won Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao’s constituency by a considerable margin, sealing the Congress candidate’s fate. Mohan polled 74,447 votes in Gandhinagar as against Mansoor’s 51,123 votes.

Mansoor did well in all other Congress-held Assembly segments such as Shivajinagar, Sarvagnanagar, Shanti Nagar and Chamarajpet. Gandhinagar was the only exception.

The largest lead for the Congressman was ensured in Energy Minister KJ George’s constituency Sarvagnanagar where Mansoor gathered 1,40,794 votes compared to Mohan’s 66,550.