3-0 Victory in Karnataka Bypolls Brings Major Relief to Siddaramaiah
DK Shivakumar, seen as Siddaramaiah's potential successor, praised the Karnataka CM, giving him full credit for the party's success in the recent bypoll victories.
Congress Sweeps Karnataka Bypolls, Secures All Three Seats
The Congress party emerged victorious in the Karnataka bypolls, winning all the three contested seats-a crucial setback for the NDA's campaign. In constituencies that had been considered strongholds of the NDA, it lost ground despite persistent campaigns on issues of corruption and appeasement politics. The results overall reflect the increasing influence of Congress on the state and ability to consolidate support among diverse regions.
Key Constituencies and Outcomes
1. Channapatna: In a major upset, the Congress grabbed Channapatna from JD(S). CP Yogeeshwara defeated Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy by an impressive margin of 26,929. This is Nikhil's third consecutive electoral defeat. He had lost the Mandya Lok Sabha elections in 2019 and Ramanagara Assembly elections in 2023. This represents a severe jolt for the JD(S). The party has, for long, dominated the region.
2. Shiggaon: The Congress pulled off a surprise as it won Shiggaon, the pocket borough of former BJP Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Former CM's son and BJP candidate Bharath Bommai lost to Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan of the Congress by 13,446 votes. This will disrupt the monopoly enjoyed by the Bommai family over the Haveri district since 2008 when Basavaraj Bommai first won the constituency.
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3. Sandur: Congress retained Sandur, reserved constituency, which remained highly loyal to the party since 1957 barring short interludes in 1985 and 2004. E Annapoorna, wife of Congress MP E Tukaram took down BJP's Bangaru Hanumanthu by 9,568 votes that tightened the party's grip in the region.
Implications for Karnataka Politics
The results of the bypoll underscore the building momentum that Congress is gaining in Karnataka under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Defeats for the BJP's prominent candidates, including members of influential political families, reflect voter frustration with the NDA strategy. This landslide victory further consolidates the Congress in the state and adds pressure to the BJP and JD(S) to revisit their strategies ahead of elections.