By-poll results: Parties on edge

The results are likely to be available before 10 am.

The BJP was torn apart by dissidence when the by-polls were announced to the three constituencies. Moreover, the tide against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had reached its peak.

Even State BJP president K S Eshwarappa had turned hostile to Yeddyurappa at the time. However, the party worked as a team when the poll campaign began.

Hence, it is natural for the BJP to be anxious about the results, even though the outcome would not impact its political future.

Tough fight in Jagalur

It was an acid test for the party in Jagalur constituency, as Rajesh, a rebel BJP man, contested as an independent candidate.

Even as the party made vain efforts to pursue Rajesh to withdraw his candidature, it fielded S V Ramachandra as its candidate. Jagalur is a reserved constituency (Scheduled Tribes).

The pre-poll survey conducted by Deccan Herald indicated that Rajesh had given a tough fight to his opponents in the triangular contest. S V Ramachandra, a Congress MLA, joined the BJP resulting in a by-election. Rajesh is said to be related to Minister B Sriramulu.

When compared to the BJP and the Congress, the stakes are higher for the JD(S) in Channapatna constituency.  Ramanagara is the fiefdom of the JD(S), more so of the party State president H D Kumaraswamy.

The JD(S) fielded Sim Lim Nagaraj, a low-profile party man, against three-time MLA and BJP nominee C P Yogeshwara.

While the Congress candidate Raghunandan Ramanna is a new entrant to politics.
M C Ashwath, who was the JD(S) MLA from Channapatna, quit the party membership due to the BJP’s strategy to reduce JD(S)’ strength in the Legislative Assembly.

In Bangarpet, which is a reserved constituency (Scheduled Castes,) Union Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa worked hard for the party candidate. The poll was necessitated by the defection of Congress MLA M Narayanswamy to the BJP.

Both the Congress and the JD(S) are hoping that the people would teach the BJP a lesson for launching ‘Operation Lotus.’