BJP, Congress win 2 seats each in Karnataka MLC elections
Bengaluru, Jun 16: The ruling BJP continues to have a majority in the Karnataka Legislative Council, as the party managed to win one teachers' and graduates' constituency each in the recently held biennial elections, while the Congress too managed to win one each.
The results are seen as a setback for the JD(S) as the party lost both the seats it represented last time and did not win any fresh seat; while for Congress it is a two seats gain, as none of the four seats that went to polls were held by the party before going for polls.
Though the ruling BJP has managed to win two of the four seats that went for poll and maintain its majority in the upper house of the state legislature, the party faced a setback with the defeat of its MLC Arun Shahapur, who was seeking re-election from one of the teachers' constituencies.
While the results for both the teachers' constituencies were announced on Wednesday night, two graduates' seats' poll results were announced on Thursday after the conclusion of the counting process.
North-West Graduates', South Graduates', North-West Teachers', and West Teachers' constituencies went for polls on Monday, witnessing an overall voter turnout of 71.01 per cent.
The elections to the four seats were necessitated as the term of BJP's Nirani Hanamant Rudrappa (N-W Graduates') and JD(S)' K T Srikante Gowda (S-Graduates'), BJP's Arun Shahpur (N-W Teachers') and JD(S)' Basavaraj Horatti (W-Teachers') are coming to an end on July 4.
With the outcome of poll results, the 75-member Legislative Council will have 39 BJP members, 27 Congress and eight JD(S), and one independent member.
Of the two seats for which results were declared today, the North-West Graduates' seat witnessed a direct fight between BJP and Congress, with JD(S) not in the fray.
BJP's Nirani Hanamant Rudrappa, who was seeking reelection, has won the N-W graduates' seat by securing 44,815 votes, while his opponent Congress' Sunil Annappa Sank obtained 10,122 votes.
In the South Graduates' constituency, Congress' Madhu G Madegowda won by securing 46,082 votes against former MLC M V Ravishankar of the BJP, who got 33,878. H K Ramu of JD(S) has got 19,630 votes.
On Wednesday, Basavaraj Horatti, who was Chairman of the Legislative Council until recently and had resigned from the post to join the BJP ahead of polls, was declared victorious from West Teachers' constituency as a candidate of J P Nadda-led outfit. He had secured 9,266 votes.
His nearest rival Basavaraj Gurikar of Congress got 4,597 votes, while Shrishail Gadadinni of JD(S) secured just 273 votes.
Horatti, who recently ended his long association with the JD(S) by joining BJP, created a history of sorts in the country, with this result, by getting elected to the Upper House of the legislature for a record eighth term. He has been an MLC since 1980.
Considered to be among the senior-most MLCs, the 76-year old is seen as a prominent Lingayat face from north Karnataka. He had been education minister in the state, and was elected as the Chairman of the Legislative Council in February 2021.
In the North-West Teachers' constituency, Arun Shahpur of BJP, who was seeking re-election was defeated by Congress' former MLA and MP Prakash Hukkeri. They secured 6,405 and 11,460 votes respectively, while Chandrashekhar Esappa Loni of JD(S) secured 544 votes.
South Graduates' constituency, Congress' Madhu G Madegowda won by securing 46,082 votes
West Teachers' constituency, BJP's Basavaraj Horatti won by securing 9,266 votes
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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution
New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.
As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.
A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.
"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.
In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.
A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.
Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.
A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.
"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.
The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.
The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.
Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.
"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.
The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.
Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.
A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.
"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.
The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.
