Mandya: For the first time in history, the BJP opened its account in Mandya district, on Tuesday, December 9. The BJP was not able to win from any constituencies of the district till now.
However, in the by-polls, party candidate Narayana Gowda won from the KR Pet constituency. Bukanakere, the birthplace of Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is part of the KR Pet constituency. Gowda won by over 9,700 votes.
Even though in the first round, JDS candidate Devaraju was leading, later, Gowda got a lead. Gowda, a two time MLA, quit JDS and joined the BJP to become a minister. He was lured to the party with an offer of ministership, it is said.
Till now, Mandya was believed to be a fort of the JDS. However, the people of Mandya seem to have rejected the regional party in the recently held Parliamentary polls and in the by-polls too. It may be recalled that the voters made Sumalatha Ambareesh, an independent candidate victorious over JDS candidate and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s son Nikhil Kumaraswamy. The by-poll result comes as a second major blow to the JDS from Mandya.
