JOIN USIf campaign style was any indication, the result was a foregone conclusion that the BJP would retain the seat. But many a BJP leaders could have skipped heart beats when the trends started emerging from the constituency. The BJP nominee was slowly yielding ground to Congress candidate N Y Hanumanthappa. Bellary, which was a strong-hold of the Congress till 2004 elections, seemed to be bucking the trend in the State and sending a Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha. Congress candidate N Y Hanumanthappa was leading by a margin of 13,420 votes till the end of the 11th round. The trend almost had driven the Congress workers to close to celebration. But, the joy slowly faded as the lone successful woman candidate from the State started narrowing the gap. When the final result was out, Shantha had made it to the Lok Sabha as a first time MP by winning the seat with a lead of 2,243 votes. Congress candidate secured the highest number of 59,592 votes in Vijayanagara and 60,619 votes from Sandur Assembly constituencies. Shantha secured 4,02,213 votes while N Y Hanumanthappa polled 3,99,970 votes.