Bangalore: Poll surprises - Stalwarts across political spectrum bite the dust

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 8: The storm of assembly election has uprooted a number of personalities who deemed themselves to be solid and strong, in the form of defeats. Some of them were unexpected.

Important among them are four-time MLA and deputy speaker of state assembly, N Yogish Bhat, former minister, Krishna J Palemar from Mangalore (south) and Mangalore (north) respectively. Ministers in the outgoing government, S A Ramdas from Mysore and Murugesh Nirani from Beelagi also tasted defeats.

Two others political heavyweights who faced defeats are deputy CM K S Eshwarappa in Shimoga and Yeddyurappa loyalist and confidante Shobha Karandlaje in Rajajinagar, Bangalore.

KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwar, was humbled in Koratagere constituency, while high-flying legislator and former minister, KJP candidate, Renukacharya, had to bite the dust at Honnali. Ex-minister, Hartalu Halappa, who had defeated Bangarappa in Sorab constituency in the last election, was defeated by Madhu Bangarappa this time.

Other former ministers who had to face reverses are Sogadu Shivanna of BJP from Tumkur and Shobha Karandlaje (KJP) from Rajajinagar. Former minister,Krishnaiah Shetty, was defeated from Malur. He had fought the election as an independent, as none of the parties were prepared to issue him a ticket.

BJP candidate and ex-minister, V Somanna, was defeated in Vijayanagar constituency. Tejaswini Gowda was humbled in Bangalore (south) constituency. Former minister, Bachche Gowda, faced reverses at Hoskote constituency,while former MLA and wife of former Chief Minister, H D Kumaraswamy, Anita Kumaraswamy, could not fulfill the dream of getting elected again from Channapatna constituency from the JD(S).

Minister in Yeddyurappa's cabinet, Revu Nayak Belamagi, tasted defeat from Gulbarga (rural) constituency. Cine star, Pooja Gandhi, who canvassed for the victory of others, herself suffered defeat at Raichur as BSR Congress candidate. Ex-ministers, C C Patil from Nargund, Anand Asnotikar from Karwar, and C M Udasi from Hangal, were the other BJP candidates found on the other side of the winning streak.

A Krishnappa of JD(S) whose name was recently in circulation for recovery of unaccounted wealth from his home, was defeated from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district. Former minister,mining baron, and brother of Janardhan Reddy, Karunakar Reddy, was defeated in Harapanahalli constituency. Another former minister, S A Ravindranath of the BJP, was humbled in Davangere (north) constituency.

Kannada Paksha stalwart, Vatal Nagaraj, faced disappointment at Chamarajanagar. Congress candidate and former minister, Kumar Bangarappa, was defeated by his brother and JD(S) candidate, Madhu Bangarappa, in Sorab constituenncy.

The other high-flying candidate to have been snubbed by the elecotrate happens to be C M Ibrahim of the Congress from Bhadravati.