from our special correspondent in Mysore

Mysore, Dec 7 (Thursday, 12-45 pm): Former deputy chief minister of Karnataka S Siddaramaiah of Congress has defeated his JDS rival Shivabasappa by a narrow margin of 257 votes from Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore. This is the fifth victory for him from his traditional constituency.

S Siddaramaiah

The counting was held on Thursday morning under the strict vigil of paramilitary forces and mounted police.

Siddaramaiah was deputy chief minister in the earlier government of Congress-JDS combine with Dharam Singh as chief minister. He was expelled from JDS for 'anti-party activities' and within a few months he was welcomed into the Congress fold. He resigned his Chamundeshwari seat to contest again on Congress ticket and has now been successful in retaining seat in spite of changing parties.

The Congress victory, in the face of the combined might of the BJP and JDS, is likely to change the equations inpolitical scenario in Karnataka. The JDS-BJP coalition is already facing a bumpy ride with differences in ideology and attitudes.

Click here to read S Siddaramaiah's exclusive interview to Daijiworld's Editor-in-chief Walter Nandalike - from our archives