Koppal:INC candidate's election was quashed for excessive expenditure!

Koppal Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka has an interesting history as the election of an Indian National Congress candidate was quashed for reasons like excessive expenditure much more than permitted by the Election Commission.

image source: kannada.oneindia.com

Probably in comparison with the present state of affairs and the huge expenditure indulged by the candidates hoodwinking the officials the above mentioned incident looks strange to believe but is now a fact in the history pages.It was way back in 1951 during the days when Koppal constituency was part of the Hyderabad princely state and known as Kushtagi Lok Sabha constituency.

Then Sivamurthyswamy Alawandi,a renowned freedom fighter and champion of the cause for liberation from the then Hyderabad state got elected from here as an Independent candidate in spite of Congress wave across the country.He humbled Madhavarao who had contested on behalf of the Indian National Congress party.Later in the subsequent general elections of 1957 Sivamurthyswamy Alawandi again entered the electoral fray as an Independent candidate.

However he lost to Sanganna Andanappa Agadi,INC candidate and a big local industrialist.The roots of Democracy were yet to take shape and monetary power had slowly started to intrude and make it's presence felt,recall many senior citizens who narrate the development as if it has occurred just a few days back.Although the results were declared and the INC candidate had begun his stint as the maiden party MP from the constituency many admirers of the defeated candidate were not prepared to take the victory as it appeared to be made out.

Many of them started persuading Sivamurthyswamy Alawandi to contest the official declaration of victory and insisted him to move the court as they termed the win to be foul.They also provided necessary relevant documents in this regard to furnish as witnesses.Interestingly one Dr Murtuza Badami,said to be a supporter of the winning INC candidate had furnished all the documents required to be submitted before the court.

It had so happened that voters vehicles were filled with petrol for free and they were also handed over receipts containing appeal to support the INC candidate.The petrol bunk was also owned by the INC candidate.This act alone became the main reason for the dispute to be raised in the state high court.BL Patil,a sworn opponent of the Congress party,renowned lawyer and leader of the Lok Sevak Sangh based in Dharwad took up the case.

Thanks to the convincing arguments of BL Patil accompanied by suitable documents the high court quashed the election of the INC candidate terming it as illegal.But Sanganna Andanappa Agadi wasn't prepared to relent and abide by the judgement of the state apex court.He appealed to the supreme court.

To the misfortune of Sivamurthyswamy Alawandi,the proceedings were delayed and just like the proverb goes:Delayed justice became justice denied.By the time the judgement was delivered in 1962 the INC MP had enjoyed his complete term and announcement was done for the third Lok Sabha general elections!,But the effect of the judgement wasn't futile.Sivamurthyswamy Alawandi again contested the Parliamentary elections,this time on the ticket of Lok Sevak Sangh.He trounced Sanganna Andanappa Agadi and had the last lough.

-Hindusthan Samachar/Manohar Yadavatti