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

Mangalore Today News Network

Bangalore, Aug 25, 2014 (DHNS): The ruling Congress in Karnataka today wrested the Bellary Rural seat from BJP and retained Chikkodi-Sadalga as counting of votes for the prestigious by-polls held on August 21 was taken up this morning.

Congress’ N Y Gopalakrishna trounced BJP’s Obalesh by an impressive margin of over 33,000 votes in Bellary Rural, electoral officials said.

In Congress’ traditional stronghold of Chikkodi-Sadalga, electoral officials said, its candidate Ganesh Prakash Hukkeri defeated BJP’s Mahantesh Kavatagimath by 30,000 votes.

In Shikaripura, Raghavendra of BJP defeated Congress’ H S Shantaveerappa Gowda by 6,400 votes in a close battle. Raghavendra is the son of party National Vice-President B S Yeddyurappa.

The Bellary Rural seat was won by B Sriramulu as BRS Congress candidate in the 2013 Assembly polls before he rejoined BJP. Sriramulu was elected to Lok Sabha in the 2014 polls from Bellary as BJP candidate.

Shikaripura set had been won by Yeddyurappa seven times earlier, before he made his debut to Lok Sabha from Shimoga. In the 2013 Assembly polls, Yeddyurappa had won the seat as the candidate of Karnataka Janatha Paksha which he merged with BJP months ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had invested heavy prestige into the by-elections with his party going all out not only to retain the seat held by it but also to capture the two from BJP.