Bangalore: Eshwarappa, Shobha Karandlaje suffer humiliating defeat

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 8: The result of the assembly election held on Sunday May 5 has cropped a number of surprises. The defeats of two of the former ministers deserve special mention because of the fact that one has been Yeddyurappa’s ardent supporter and follower, while the other is a close confidante-turned-foe.

Former deputy chief minister of Karnataka, K S Eshwarappa, who had kept the party leadership on tenterhooks by making one demand or the other, and asserting his supremacy in the party, had to surrender his Shimoga seat.

Eshwarappa, knowing fully well that Yeddyurappa with whom he had a close association for several decades, and who felt cheated by the betrayal of his friend, would do everything in his command to defeat him, remained in his constituency till the election, canvassed every day, and did not venture outside the district to campaign for others.

Still, he faced a humiliating defeat, by being placed third with a margin of 5,842 votes.

On the other hand, Shobha Karandlaje, who has remained loyal to Yeddyurappa since long, and had shifted her loyalties to the KJP after Yeddyurappa created the party, opted to fight from Rajajinagar Bangalore constituency, although she had won from Yeshwantpur constituency in the last election.

Change of constituency did not augur well to her, and she has tasted defeat at the hands of her former ministerial colleague, Suresh Kumar of the BJP. She also was placed third as far as tally of votes is concerned.