Bangalore: In a major setback for the BJP and Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Wednesday, K Jayaprakash Hegde of Congress beat V Sunil Kumar of BJP by huge margin of over 40,000 votes in the bypoll of Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat.
Hegde secured 3,98,723 votes as against 3,52,999 by Sunil Kumar.
Sadananda Gowda gave up the seat earlier this year upon his elevation as Chief Minister, and the loss of the BJP candidate would strengthen his rival BS Yeddyurappa’s position.
“After 18 years we have won the seat. It’s a reflection of governance of the BJP in the state. It’s the most corrupt government and we will defeat them. The countdown has begun,” said Union Minister of Corporate Affairs and senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily.
About 66 per cent of the 12.53 lakh electorate had exercised their franchise in the bypoll held on March 18.
The outcome of the bypoll is being viewed as the trend setter for the next year assembly elections in Karnataka.