Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 11: With the unexpected defeat at the hands of relatively new face, Dr B M Rajesh Gowda, in the bypoll held for Sira assembly constituency in Tumakuru district, the long political innings of former minister, T B Jayachandra, who won six assembly elections and was a minister seems to have hit the dead end.

The 71-year-old veteran Congresman had won four times from the then Kallambella assembly constituency and twice from Sira constituency. He had been minister in the S M Krishna and Siddaramaiah cabinets. As he has tasted defeat in Sira constituency twice in succession, he may not get the Congress ticket to fight the election again, sources say.

It is learnt that the Congress in-charge of Karnataka state affairs, Randeep Singh Surjewala, had expressed his displeasure at the candidature of Jayachandra. He wanted the ticket to be issued to Dr Rajesh Gowda, but at the insistence of the leader of the opposition, Siddaramaiah, and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, D K Shivakumar the party had issued him ticket. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had also accused Dr Rajesh Gowda of maneuvering with both the BJP and the Congress. During the election too, the party workers were confused as they sensed that everything was not well within the party.

Political analysts believe that Jayachandra's political career may not take off again. His entire political arena so far were Kallambella and Sira assembly constituencies in Tumakuru district and his traditional rivals were from the Janata Party and the JD(S). However, this time, he has been defeated for the first time by a BJP candidate.