Daijiworld Media Network – Mysore (SP)

Mysore, May 26: The Congress Party suffered loss of face in the election held for the post of the zilla panchayat here on Tuesday May 25, as its rebel candidate, S N Siddarth, defeated the party’s official candidate, Siddappa.

The election was held for the last term of seven months. The post was reserved for scheduled caste this time. Both Siddarth and Siddappa, who are backed by the experiences of having discharged duties in various posts, were interested in becoming the party candidates for the post.

Initially, S N Siddarth, a staunch follower of opposition leader in the assembly, Siddaramaiah, was projected as the official candidate of the party. But, the party suddenly put up Siddappa as its candidate at the last minute. Siddarth refused to give up, and filed nomination as a rebel candidate of the party. With the support of some JDS, Congress and BJP members, he secured 26 votes as against Siddappa’s 17, and was declared elected. Another candidate, H C Lakshman from the BJP, failed to get any votes.

Siddaramaiah and local MLA, Dr H C Mahadevappa, had supported the candidature of S N Siddarth, while MP, A H Vishwanath, MLA, V Srinivas Prasad, and several others had a leaning towards Siddappa.