Chamundeshwari MLA G T Devegowda of the JD(S) emerged as the giant killer by defeating Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress, with a margin of 36,042 votes. While Devegowda secured 1,21,325 votes, Siddaramaiah managed to poll 85,283 votes.
Devegowda, a former associate of Siddaramaiah, is in active politics since 1972, supporting then MLA K Puttaswamy. Even though he maintained low-profile for a long time, he was active in the cooperative movement.
In the 1998 bypolls, he entered the Assembly from Hunsur on a Janata Dal ticket. He was elected from the same constituency in 2004 as a JD(S) candidate. A native of Gungral Chatra, under Chamundeshwari constituency, he shifted to it in the 2013 polls, when he defeated ex-MLA M Sathyanarayana (Congress).
His association with Siddaramaiah spans over 23 years, from 1983 up to 2006, when Siddaramaiah defected to the Congress. Devegowda remained in the JD(S), but joined the BJP in 2008 and unsuccessfully contested from Hunsur. In 2013, he returned to JD(S).
Speaking to DH, Devegowda said he dedicates his victory to the people of the constituency. “Siddaramaiah’s arrogance towards people and negligence towards the constituency made my path easy,” he said.
Devegowda said, after Siddaramaiah shifted to Varuna segment in 2008, he never cared for the people of Chamundeshwari.
“Having represented the constituency for a long time, for five terms, he could have done wonders. At least after becoming chief minister, he could have taken steps to develop the constituency,” said Devegowda.
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