Celebrations begin as Congress-JDS sweeps bypolls in four constituencies

Mangaluru: With the Congress-JDS coalition winning four out of five constituencies that went into bypolls, the Congress has gone into celebration mode.

With VS Ugrappa of the Congress snatching away Ballari from the hands of the BJP, Sreeramulu, former BJP minister has owned up all the responsibility for the defeat of his sister and BJP’s candidate J Shantha.

Congress leader DK Shivakumar, who is said to be the man behind the strategies for the polls has thanked the voters for their support and said that the Congress has been given greater responsibility with victory in Ballari.

“We cannot bask over this victory. It is bigger responsibility, “he said thanking Sreeramulu for allowing the election process to go on peacefully.

Shivamogga for BJP

Meanwhile, though it was said that Shivamogga, the strong fort of BJP will be retained by the party, Congress candidate Madhu Bangarappa gave a tight fight here. The constituency had grabbed a lot of attention because three sons of former CMs were in fray. However, BY Raghavendra, son of former CM and BJP State president BS Yeddyurappa has won the constituency and saved the face of BJP in the state.

Anita Kumaraswamy makes history
Ramanagara has been won by JDS candidate Anita Kumaraswamy, who is the wife of CM HD Kumaraswamy. It turned out to be a swift cakewalk for her as BJP’s candidate Chandrashekar retired from elections merely a few days before polls, paving way for her to walk up to an easy victory.

Anitha Kumaraswamy did not just register a landslide victory in this bypolls, but she also scripted history by winning with a margin of more than one lakh votes, which is said to be the highest in history of Ramanagara. During the last Assembly polls, her husband had trounced his opponent with a margin of 22,000 votes.

Anitha Kumaraswamy also becomes the first lady MLA to represent the constituency.

Reactions

KPCC President Dinesh Gundurao has said that it was a hint to the BJP that the voters have rejected the politics of hate and have patted the back of the Congress-JDS.

“This is indeed a gift given by our voters to the coalition government for Diwali,” he said adding that the result is a pre cursor for the upcoming general elections.

Meanwhile, former CM Siddaramaiah said that the BJP is a part of the liars, who can go to any extent to remain in power. “They are under an illusion that the coalition government will topple, which will not happen, ” he said.

Speaking to reporters Anitha Kumaraswamy said that the Gowda family shares a very special bond with the constituency and that has been proved once again.

“The victory has scripted history, not one but two and I owe all of this to the voters. I also owe this to my husband and my father in-law, ” he said adding that now there are no doubts about the life of the coalition government at the state.

Vote share according to constituency

Vidhana Sabha by-polls

Ramanagara