Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Apr 6: Former MLA, V Somanna, had deserted the Congress party and joined the BJP last year. He was made a minister in the BJP government. However, as he failed to get elected on BJP ticket from his constituency, Govindarajapur, he had to resign. There were rumours that he had lost his importance in the party.

However, Somanna has built his image back by ensuring victory in 13 of the 16 wards where his supporters were fielded by the BJP. In Govindarajapur, his home constituency, eight of the nine BJP candidates fielded by the BJP, won the election. In Vijayanagar constituency, where supporters of Somanna had been fielded, the BJP won in seven out of nine wards. Out of the 16 seats in these two assembly constituencies, 13 went to the BJP, two to the Congress, and one to the JDS.

Yeddyurappa had thrown his weight behind Somanna and had ensured that his supporters alone got the tickets in these two constituencies, where Somanna wields considerable influence.