The ruling BJP suffered a setback in the by-election to the Karnataka Assembly from Bellary Rural (reserved for ST) when its nominee Gadilingappa lost his deposit while independent and former minister B Sriramulu emerged victorious by a huge margin of 46,760 votes. There were four other independents in the fray.
While the defeat was not all that unexpected for the BJP, the margin with which the humiliation came about was not expected. B Sriramulu polled 74,527 votes followed by Ramprasad of the Congress who secured 27,527 votes.
Gadilingappa could manage only 17,366 votes which were not enough to save his deposit. To get the deposit refunded, the BJP needed 20,562 votes. The election was necessitated by the resignation of B Sriramulu, was held on November 30 and the result was announced on Sunday after the counting of votes at the Bellary Polytechnic College here.
The counting, which began in the morning ended around noon. B Sriramulu kept the lead throughout. The constituency registered 71.65 per cent polling.
The election, which saw a high-pitched campaigning from the bigwigs of the BJP and Congress, was touted as the one which would result in regrouping of political forces and that it would change the political scenario in Karnataka by seriously affecting the future of BJP government in the state.
There are speculations in the political circles that B Sriramulu would destabilise the BJP government. However soon after retaining the seat Sriramulu denied he would destabilise the government. Instead, he would launch a new party.
“I know only to build the party, not to destroy it,” he asserted and added that he and the Reddy Brothers were responsible for building the BJP in Bellary district.
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Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said, the result was not unexpected but refused to accept that it would weaken his government.
He said, the party was paying the price for promoting the Reddy brothers and Sriramulu excessively and allowing them to dominate the entire district. Barring five MLAs and two MPs, not many MLAs are with Sriramulu. The BJP has suspended three MLAs, one MLC and two MPs from Bellary for working against the party’s nominee in the election by supporting Sriramulu openly.
The by-poll was necessitated by resignation of B Sriramulu who had been elected on BJP ticket in 2008. Sriramulu decided to quit after not being inducted into the cabinet formed by D V Sadanand Gowda. The new dispensation did not include Sriramulu as his name figured in the Lok Ayukta report over illegal mining cases.
The BJP had tried till last moment to coax Sriramulu to contest on BJP ticket but the latter was adamant. The ruling party had to hurriedly search for another candidate and named Gadilingappa.
The Janata Dal(S) had not fielded its candidate and is supporting Sriramulu.