JD(S) bags south graduates' seat, Congress pushed to third place

Srikantegowda wins after counting of 2nd, 3rd preferential votes

The ruling Congress was pushed to the third place in the election to the Legislative Council from the South Graduates’ constituency, which comprises Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s home district of Mysuru.

The counting of the votes, for the polling held on June 9, began at 8 am on Monday and concluded early Tuesday morning.

The result was announced thereafter. JD(S) candidate K T Srikantegowda emerged the winner, defeating BJP candidate M V Ravishankar. The seat was held by Go Madhusudan of the BJP in the previous term.

Srikantegowda secured 23,619 votes, including second preferential votes, after eliminating the other 16 candidates. BJP nominee Ravishankar managed to get 16,866 first preferential votes and was eliminated in the 17th round, while the Congress candidate was eliminated in the 16th round of counting.

The constituency comprises four districts - Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagar and Hassan.

Congress candidate Dr H N Ravindra managed to secure only 9,323 first preferential votes, out of the 46,974 valid votes.

Close fight
It was a close fight between the JD(S) and the BJP right from the first round of counting of votes.

As no candidate could secure the quota (50% of the total valid votes plus one), the authorities took up counting of second and third preferential votes.

BJP candidate Hanumant Nirani won the elections from the North-West graduates’ constituency by 20,087 first preferential votes.

Nirani polled 43,605 votes, while his nearest competitor and sitting member Mahantesh Koujalgi (Congress) secured 23,518 votes.

Janata Dal (United) state president M P Nadagouda was a distant third with a mere 3,536 votes. It was his second successive defeat in the Council elections.

We lost due to our mistakes: CM
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has termed the Congress defeat in polls to four teachers/graduates constituencies in the Legislative Council, “a loss to the party,” reports DHNS from Bengaluru.
“There was delay in finalising the candidates and also there was not sufficient preparation.  We lost due to our mistakes,” Siddaramaiah said speaking to reporters on Tuesday.