Bengaluru: Ruling BJP and Opposition Congress won Sindgi and Hangal Assembly seats respectively.

Bye  elections results reads as huge set back to ruling BJP, because normally ruling party winning bye polls in the state, but it has lost most prestigious Hangal seat to Congress. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has taken bye poll battle as prestigious to prove his leadership and it was his first electoral test after he became the Chief Minister.

The only satisfactory thing was BJP has won the Sindgi seat, party candidate Ramesh Bhusanur won by a margin of 31,088 votes against Congress candidate Ashok Managuli. Ramesh Bhusanur secured 93380 votes, Congress candidate Ashok Managuli secured 62292 votes, however, JD(S) candidate Nazia Angadi obtained 3894 votes. The sympathy factor has worked in my favor, said Mr. Ramesh Bhusanur after winning the elections. BJP in-charge of Sindgi, Laxman Savadi, V. Somanna and C.C. Patil has thrilled with the huge margin victory of party candidate. Mr. Savadi said that he was expected a victory margin of 25,000 to 30,000 votes.

But BJP has received big jolt in the Hangal constituency, Congress candidate Shrinivas Mane win by a margin of 7426 votes against BJP candidate Shivarj Sajjanvar. Mr. Mane secured 87,300 votes and  Sajjanvar secured 79874 votes. JD(S) candidate obtained 921 votes.

In both the seats, JD(S) lost deposits, eying for Muslim votes, Mr. Kumaraswamy fielded Muslim candidates in both the constituencies, but it did not worked for his favor.  

After he became the Chief Minister by replacing BJP mascot B.S.Yediyurappa, it was the first electoral test of Bommai. He has taken Hangal bye-elections as a prestigious battle, as it fall under his home district and very close to his Shiggaon constituency. Moreover, it was a big challenge for CM to retain Hangal seat which was represented by his political mentor C.M. Udasi. It was Mr. Udasi bring Bommai to the BJP before the 2008 Assembly elections. '

BJP leaders have thanked the voters of Sindgi constituency, after winning the elections, Ramesh Bhusanur said that the sympathy factor worked in favor of him, due to collective efforts of the leaders and party workers I have won the elections, voters have rejected the decisive politics of Congress and JD(S), he said.

JD(S) has ended with poor performance in both the seats, former Chief Minister H.D.Kumaraswamy said that in most of the booths, party has no workers, it has faced very much difficult in many booths to mobilize party workers. Moreover, Congress has hijacked its candidate in Sndgi, it's former  MLA son, he blamed. Ashok Manguli has switched over to Congress just before the bye-elections were announced.

Setback to Bommai

The defeat of the Hangal seat has been considered a huge setback to BJP and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Internal bickering in the ruling BJP has been reflected in the results. Former Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa was not actively involved in the campaign. While releasing the elections in charge list BSY son B.Y. Vijayendra was not included in the list, after the protest of his supporters, BJP state unit has included his name, it was not going well with BSY and his supporters.

During campaigning, BJP leaders have used unparliamentary words against Opposition leader Siddaramaiah. Leaders had exchanged war of words, leaders have made personal attacks. CM remarks on 'Kambali' has irked Siddaramaiah's supporters. Later BJP National general secretary C.T. Ravi's objectionable remarks against Siddaramaiah has damaged the saffron party much. Meanwhile, BJP State President Nalin Kumar Kateel used objectionable remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.