Karnataka bypoll: Congress wrests Ballari from BJP after 14 years

HUBBALLI: Congress on Tuesday wrested the Ballari Lok Sabha seat from BJP after 14 years in a landslide victory in the bypoll.
The victory is being credited to water resource minister DK Shivakumar's organisational skills and is expected to boost his political standing in Ballari district.
With this victory, DK Shivakumar , a Vokkaliga leader, also got a foothold in north Karnataka after facing political rivalry from Jarkiholi brothers.
However, the defeat of BJP has also spoiled the chances of MLA Sriramulu emerging as an alternative to state BJP President BS Yeddyurappa.
Under DK Shivakumar's lead, young leaders of Congress campaigned for VS Ugrappa. A joint rally by JD(S) Supremo HD Devegowda and former CM Siddaramaiah had given much needed boost to the Congress.
BJP's Sriramulu on the other hand was the lone star campaigner since party state chief BS Yeddyurappa had focussed on Shivamogga.
Ballary is reserved for ST and the efforts of Congress to project VS Ugrappa as Valmiki leader have paid off.
Congress candidate VS Ugrappa has polled 6,28,365 votes, while BJP's J Shantha bagged 3,85,204 votes. Ugrappa won with a margin of 2,43,261 votes, thus breaking earlier records set by Sonia Gandhi and Sreeramulu.
Ballari Lok Sabha constituency was a Congress bastion till 2004. After this, Ballari mining baron G Janaradhan Reddy and Sreeramulu's family members established their hold by winning all elections since 2004.
After results,MLA Sreeramulu said, he owns the responsibility for the party's defeat in Ballari bypoll and doesn't want to hold anyone responsible for party's miserable defeat.
Winning candidate VS Ugrappa of the Congress attributed his victory to united fight by Congress and JD(S).