Daijiworld Media Network - Chamarajanagar

Chamarajanagar, Apr 13: Results of both Nanjangud and Gundlupet constituencies which went to bypolls on April 9 are out. BJP candidates were defeated in both these constituencies by their Congress rivals by a big margin.

In Nanjangud, political heavyweight and disgruntled former Congress minister and leader, V Srinivas Prasad, has been defeated by Kalale N Keshavamurthy of Congress by a margin of over 20,000 votes. The seat was earlier held by Srinivas Prasad, who left Congress after he was dropped from the state cabinet by the chief minister.

In Gundlupet constituency, although BJP candidate, Niranjan Kumar, gave tough fight to Congress candidate, Geetha Mahadev Prasad, Congress bagged the seat. The margin of victory is over 10,000 votes. Geetha was fielded from this constituency, after her husband and former minister, H S Mahadev Prasad, passed away in January.

For both Congress and BJP these constituencies had become a prestige issue, and scores of leaders big and small had jumped into the fray and canvassed for their respective parties.

KPCC President G Parameshwara said that it is a mandate for the achievements of the state government during the last two years. Polling for both the seats was held on April 9. The bypolls are considered as prestige battle for the two national parties. The results are seen as pointer to the crucial assembly elections to be held next year.

The by-poll was necessitated in Gundlupet after the death of cooperation minister H S Mahadev Prasad passed away in January. The by-poll for Nanjangud (Scheduled Caste) in Myusuru district was necessitated by the resignation of former Congress lawmaker and revenue minister Srinivas Prasad, who is re-contesting on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket.

Elaborate arrangements were made by the Mysuru and Chamarajanagar district administrations to ensure no untoward incidents take place. Tight security has been deployed, with Sec 144 imposed within a radius of 500 metres of the counting centres for a period of 24 hours.

Congress candidates in both constituencies maintained a steady lead right from the first round of counting.

Results (Votes)

Nanjangud

Congress - 86,212

BJP - 64,878

Gundlupet

Congress - 90,258

BJP - 79,381