Bypasses were organized for two seats in the Assembly in Karnataka (file)
Bengaluru:
The BJP completed a clean sweep in the Karnataka bypolls, winning both Sira in Tumkur district and Rajarajeshwarinagar, or RR Nagar, in Bengaluru.
The ruling party won about 13,000 more votes than Congress to win the victory in Sira and let off steam at home in RR Nagar, registering 58,113 more votes than its rival in Congress.
The BJP predicted these results, with Chief Deputy Minister Dr Ashwath Narayan telling GalacticGaming: “We are 100%, 1000% sure that we will win the elections in Sira and Rajarajeshwarinagar.”
He also predicted a victory for the BJP in the four-seat legislative elections held simultaneously.
Congress had also been sure of victory, with DK Shivakumar, head of state unity, saying: “We are confident that we will win both seats. MLC seats – out of four, three we can win.”
To Sira, Congress sent former minister TB Jayachandra and JDS Ammajamma. Both lost to Dr CM Rajesh Gowda of the BJP.
To RR Nagar, Congress introduced H Kusuma, widow of the late IAS officer DK Ravi, while the JDS nominated V Krishnamurthy. The BJP candidate was the former MP for N Munirathna.
In terms of numbers, neither of the two results will make a difference to the stability of the state government, given the BJP’s numerical superiority in the House.
However, perception and prestige are part of politics, and all parties involved campaigned vigorously for these seats, with state leaders active on the ground – often with little regard for COVID social distancing standards – 19.
The bypoll to Sira was made necessary after the death of JDS B lawmaker Sathyanarayana in August this year, while RR Nagar’s seat fell vacant last year following the disqualification of then-MP N Munirathna. Congress, under the anti-defection law.
