The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suffered a massive defeat in the recently held by-elections in Karnataka. The ruling Congress-JDS alliance has secured victory in two Lok Sabha constituencies and two Assembly segments in the by-polls held on Saturday, while BJP secured the Shimoga Lok-Sabha seat.
The Congress-JDS coalition won the prestigious Bellary Lok Sabha by-elections defeating BJP candidate J Shantha, sister of BJP strongman B Shriramulu. Backed by Congress master strategist DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah, senior leader VS Ugrappa secured a win in the Bellary by-polls with a huge margin of 2,14,826 votes. Ugrappa secured 5,54,139 votes and 3,39,313 votes were polled in favour of BJP’s J Shantha.
The Congress-JDS has won the Mandya by-polls, as JDS leader LR Shivaramegowda defeated BJP candidate DR Siddaramaiah with a lead of 3,24,377 votes. The JDS Candidate Shivaramegowda has secured almost 5.69,302 votes while BJP candidate garnered close to 2,44,377 votes.
In Shimoga, BJP Candidate BY Raghavendra, son of former Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa raced towards the victory with 5,42,946 votes against his JDS opponent Madhu Bangarappa, son of another former Chief Minister S Bangarappa with a lead of 52,000 votes.
Congress candidate AS Nyamagouda won the Jamkhandi legislative assembly elections by defeating BJP’s Shrikant Subra Kulkarni with a margin of 39,480 votes. JDS candidate Anitha Kumaraswamy, wife of CM HD Kumaraswamy also won the Ramanagara legislative assembly with a margin over one lakh votes. Anitha Kumaraswamy secured 1,25,043 votes and defeated BJP candidate L Chandrashekhar who got 15,906 votes.
Congress leader DK Shivakumar thanked the voters of Karnataka after Congress won four out of five seats in the by-elections. “This Deepavali, I thank the people of Karnataka & especially Bellary for blessing Congress party with this record victory. With support & guidance of Congress President Shri Rahul Gandhi & Former PM Shri HD Devegowda, the coalition leaders & workers strived hard to defeat BJP, ” tweeted the Congress leader.
Former Prime Minister HD Devegowda said that the results of Karnataka by-elections are the reflection of the unity of the JDS-INC front. “I am grateful to the leaders and party workers of both parties for their enormous contribution”, said HD Devegowda.
BJP senior leader and former Minister Suresh Kumar said that the party needs to do genuine introspection. “Time for our cadre based Organisation-Party to re-invent itself to get ready for the Major Exam,” said the BJP leader.
