Karnataka

Karnataka bypolls: Cong wins Bellary, Chikkodi; BJP retains Shikaripura

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The ruling Congress on Moday bagged two seats in the by-elections held to three Legislative Assembly constituencies in the State.

The Congress wrested Bellary (ST) seat from the Opposition BJP and retained Chikodi–Sadalaga constituency. The BJP retained its Shikaripura constituency.

By-elections were held to three constituencies on August 21. 22 candidates were in the fray in all the three constituencies.

In Bellary, N.Y. Gopalakrishna of the Congress defeated BJP candidate Oblesh by a margin of over 50,000 votes. While Mr. Gopalakrishna bagged 83,906 votes, Mr. Oblesh received 50,808 votes.

In BJP stronghold Shikaripura, B.Y. Raghavendra, son of former chief minister and BJP National Vice-president B.S. Yeddurappa, defeated Congress candidate H.S. Shantaveera Gowda by a margin of 6,030 votes. Mr. Raghavendra received 71,547 votes while Mr. Gowda bagged 65,117 votes.

The seat fell vacant after Mr. Yeddyurappa, representing Shikaripura, got elected to Lok Sabha from Shimoga, the seat Mr. Raghavendra held earlier.

The Congress retained Chikkodi-Sadalga and party candidate Ganesh Hukkeri, son of former minister Prakash Hukkeri, MP, defeated Mahantesh M Kavatgimath by a margin of 31,820.

Mr. Hukkeri received 94,636 votes while Mr Kavatgimath bagged 62,816 votes.

After the Lok Sabha elections, both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP fought a bitter battle in all three constituencies.

The poll outcome has become a big moral booster to the Congress government when it was mired in several controversies, including rejection of KPSC list and denotification of lands in the Arkavathi Layout, in the recent past.

The JD (S) had not fielded candidates in three constituencies.

The ruling Congress is not only increased its strength in the Assembly but also wrest a seat held by BJP, which pulled out an impressive performance in the Lok Sabha polls, bagging 17 of the 28 seats against nine secured by the Congress.

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