Bengaluru: The ruling Congress on Thursday retained the two assembly segments of Nanjangud (SC) and Gundlupet in Karnataka by winning both the seats.
In the prestigious Nanjangud constituency, ruling party’s candidate K. Keshavamurthy defeated his nearest rival Srinivasa Prasad of the BJP by a margin of 21,334 votes.
The bye-election was necessitated due to Congress lawmaker V Srinivasa Prasad quitting Congress protesting dropping him from Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet. Prasad was Minister for Revenue in Siddaramaiah’s Cabinet. Srinivasa Prasad quit Congress on October 17, 2016 and joined BJP on January 2, 2017
In Gundlupet, Mohan Kumari Uruf alias Geetha of the Congress defeated her nearest rival C.S. Niranjankumar of the BJP by a margin of 10,877 votes.
The bye-election for Nanjangud was necessitated due to the demise of Congress lawmaker Mahadeva Prasad. He died on January 3, 2017.
The by-election was held on April 9.
Of the 1,56,315 votes polled in Nanjangud, Keshavamurthy secured 86,212 (55 per cent) and Prasad 64,878 (41.5 per cent).
The rest of the votes were shared by nine other candidates, including Independents. The total electorate in the reserved seat is 2,01,823.
In Gundlupet, of the 1,74,955 votes polled, Geetha bagged 90,260 (51.6 per cent) and Niranjankumar 79,383 (45.4 per cent), while seven other candidates, including Independents shared the remaining votes. The total electorate in the seat is 2,00892.
“I have to thank the voters of Gundlupet and Nanjangud for electing Congress candidates. The outcome motivates Congress leaders and activists to prepare for State Assembly elections in 2018,’’ Dr G Parameshwara, president, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee told reporters here in Bengaluru.
BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa camped in the two constituencies and campaigned extensively but in vain. BJP leaders failed to reach out the voters in Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly segments.
“I accept the defeat in bye-election, will bounce back in 2018 Assembly elections with 150 seats. I thank karyakartas (party workers) who worked day and night,’’ B S Yeddyurappa, BJP state president tweeted on the outcome of the bye-election results.
Janata Dal (Secular) did not contest in both Assembly segments. It helped Congress candidates to romp home in both Assembly constituencies.
“I have to thank JD(S) workers and leaders who have worked for the success of Congress candidates in Nanjangud and Gundlupet Assembly segments. The elections results indicate the absence of Modi wave in Karnataka,’’ Dr Parameshwara said.
