Bengaluru: In the run-up for 2023 Assembly polls, the opposition Congress has given neck to neck fight to the ruling BJP in the Legislative Council polls by winning 11 seats out of 25 in the biennial elections.

Both ruling BJP and Opposition Congress has taken Council poll as a prestigious battle did high decibel campaign in their stronghold regions. While in picking and fielding the candidates, both parties have not taken risks. Both parties have sure about winning one seat each in twin constituencies of Dakshina Kannada, Hubballi-Dharwad, Vijaypura-Bagalkote, Mysuru-Chamarajanagara, Belagavi-Chikkodi. But ruling BJP calculation has uprooted in Belagavi local bodies polls to the Council where party official candidate Mahantesh Kawatagimatt tasted defeat in the hands of Congress Chennaraj Hattiholi and Independent candidate Lakhan Jarakiholi.

In previous elections, the ruling Congress has won 15 seats out of 25, it has expected to win 12 seats. However, given the tough fights in Chikamagaluru and Madikeri. In the Chikamagaluru seat, party candidate Gayathri Shanthegowda has defeated by 6 votes to BJP candidate and sitting MLC, M.K. Pranesh.

In the Madikeri seat, Suja Kushalappa won by 102 votes against his nearest rival Dr. Mantar Gowda. Since Mr. Mantar Gowda.

Results: BJP won 12 seats, Congress 11, JD(S) 1 and Independent won one seat.

Elected BJP candidates: Gopinath Reddy- Bengaluru Urban, Madikeri- Suja Kushalappa,  D.S. Arun- Shivamogga,  K.S. Naveen- Chitradurga, Y.M. Satish- Bellary, Ganapathi Ulvekar- Uttara Kannada, M.K. Pranesh- Chikamagaluru, Kota Srinivasa Poojari- Dhakshina Kannada, B.G. Patil- Kalaburgi-Yadgiri, Pradeep Shettar- Hubballi-Dharwad, P.H. Poojar- Vijayapura-Bagalkote and Raghu Koutilya- Mysuru-Chamarajanagara.

Image: Elected BJP candidates in the Council polls 

Congress has won the prestigious Belagavi seat, collective leadership headed by Congress working President Satish Jarakiholi has given results to the party. Under the leadership of Satish Jarakiholi party has defeated BJP official candidate Mahantesh Kawatagimatt. Congress candidate, brother Congress MLA, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Chennaraj Hattiholi won the elections by first preferences votes. Belagavi results have sent a clear message to both BJP and its rebel MLA, Ramesh Jarakiholi. Mr. Ramesh Jarakiholi has promised his party leaders to ensure the victory of the party official candidate and his brother Lakhan Jarakiholi. But he has able to ensure the victory of his brother Lakhan.

Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said that Council poll results have sent a message that “Congress wave is very much clear in the state and BJP is become unpopular and has lost its base in the state”, he said. Party has won expected seats, we have expected to win Chikamagaluru and Madikeri. But both seats have lost by a narrow margin, Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

BJP has yet to make a reaction to Council poll results. But sources said that the party has not been satisfied with its performance, especially the defeat of the party candidate in Belagavi. After council polls, BJP leaders confidently announced that the party would win 15 plus seats and even mocked at opposition Congress.  But it has been able to win 12 seats with tough fights from Congress candidates. BJP won two seats with a narrow margin.

JD(S) real looser

In the council polls, JD(S) has completely wiped out in the old Mysuru region except for its stronghold Hassan. Dr. Suraj Revanna has been able to win Hassan seat. However, the party has faced humiliation defeat in Mandya, Mysuru, Kolar, Tumakuru and Bengaluru rural seats. Out of 25 seats, the party has fielded candidates in only six seats and extended support to BJP candidates in the remaining 19 seats. In previous elections, the party has won five seats in the old Mysuru region, but this election, it has managed to retain only one seat in its bastion.JD(S) supremo, H.D. Kumaraswamy termed that “money and muscle power has defeated the party in the council polls. National parties have a tacit understanding in the polls to defeat the JD(S). In these elections, elected representatives are the voters, but in 2023 Assembly polls, people are the voters and they will vote for JD(S)”, Mr. Kumaraswamy said.

Elected Congress candidates: Bhimarao B Patil- Bidar, Rajendra- Tumakuru, M.L. Anil Kumar- Kolara, Sunil Gouda Patil- Vijayapura- Bagalkote, Saleem Ahemmad- Hubballi-Dharwad, Sharangouda Patil Byyapura- Raichuru, Dinesh Gooligowda- Mandya, Dr. D. Thimmaiah- Mysuru-Chamarajanagara, Manjunath Bhandary- Udupi- Dhakshina Kannada, Chennaraju Hattiholi- Belagavi and S.Ravi- Bengaluru Rural local bodies

Image: Elected Congress Candidates in Council polls 

JD(S) candidate, Suraj Revanna and Independent candidate, Lakhan Jarakiholi won the elections from Hassan and Belagavi seats respectively.

Twin constituencies: Udupi-Dhakshina Kannada, Kota Srinivasa Poojari (BJP) and Manjunath Bhandary (Congress),  Mysuru-Chamarajanagara, Dr. D. Thimmaiah (Congress), Raghu Kautilya ( BJP),  Vijayapura- Bagalkote, Sunial Gouda Patil ( Congress), P.H. Poojar ( BJP),  Hubballi-Dharwad, Saleem Ahemmad ( Congress), Pradeep Shettar ( BJP), Belagavi-Chikkodi, Chennaraju Hattiholi ( Congress) and  Lakhan Jarakiholi ( Independent).