DHARWAD: Veteran journalist Patil Puttappa has been re-elected president of the Karnataka Vidyavardhaka Sangha (KVS) for yet another term in an election held on Sunday.
PaPu, who has been at the helm of affairs of this prestigious institution which played a pivotal role for the cause of the land and language and unification of the state for 47 years, defeated his rival Mrityunjay Agadi.
Puttappa secured over 1,800 votes and his opponent could not cross 1,000. Most of members of the present administrative body namely Shivanna Bellad (vice-president), Shankar Halagatti (general secretary), Krishna Joshi (treasurer) and Shivanand Bhavikatti (assistant secretary) are all set to retain their positions.
Dr D M Hiremath, former Dharwad district Kannada Sahitya Parishat, is likely to get selected as the working president while the sitting executive committee members like Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni, Prakash Udikeri, Guru Hiremath, Mohan Nagammanavar, Basavaprabhu Hoskeri, Siddhaling Desai, Guri Tigadi, Jinadutt Hadagali and Vishveshwari Hiremath are all in the lead.
The poll was held from 7 am to 4 pm and of the 5,588 voters, 2,998 voted. Puttappa, poet Channaveera Kanavi, former Union minister Babagouda Patil, MLC Basavaraj Horatti, writer Siddalinga Pattanashetty and 103-year-old G G Dodwad were among those who exercised their franchise.Â
