Ballari: Politicians usually lash out and make irresponsible statements when election results don’t turn out as expected. While they either cry foul or blame EVMs for the unfavourable results, few are graceful enough to accept defeat.
In the recent by-polls held on November 3, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost power in one of its bastions, Ballari, to the Congress’ V S Ugrappa. While most of the party members were not happy about the results, Molakalmuru MLA Sriramulu, on November 6, gracefully accepted the defeat by taking responsibility for the same. His move is even more graceful and commendable considering that the BJP candidate who lost the seat is his sister, Shanta.
After the results of the by-polls were announced on Tuesday, November 6, Sriramulu told reporters that Ugrappa’s win was a result of the stronghold of the coalition government in the constituency.
Admitting that the defeat was a set back to the BJP, he accepted it and said, “I bow to the people’s verdict. The people might have their reasons for rejecting us. We will accept it.”
He, however, said that the results of the by-elections have no bearing on the upcoming general elections.