K’taka by-poll results to reveal which way winds are blowing

NT Bengaluru

The results of the three Assembly constituency by-elections, which will be released on Saturday, are bound to have a significant impact on Karnataka’s politics. Congress performing well would be perceived as an endorsement of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, which will come as a relief for the State government reeling under corruption allegations. The ruling party has been accused of graft in relation to the Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment scam and the Valmiki Corporation illegal money transfer case.

Failure to capitalize on these accusations would be seen as the failure of BJP Karnataka president BY Vijayendra and his father BS Yediyurappa, who is seen as having a stranglehold on the party’s state unit by his detractors. Conversely, the rebel camp, including MLAs Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Ramesh Jarkiholi, besides former MP Pratap Simha and others, would have a weaker case if the saffron party did well in the by-polls under Vijayendra’s leadership. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partner JD(S) on the other hand is desperate to hold on to Channapatna, their last stronghold in Ramanagar district.

The remaining three Assembly seats in the district are held by Congress. If JD(S) retains Channapatna, the party would feel more secure in its Old Mysuru Vokkaliga heartland stronghold. However, if Congressman CP Yogeshwar secures a victory, it’ll strengthen the position of Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who can press his claim for the CM’s post. An exit poll by PMARQ had forecast that Congress, BJP and JD(S) will win a seat each, retaining their old constituencies.

It had predicted that Congress candidate Annapoorna would win Sandur against BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu while saffron party MP Basavaraj Bommai’s son Bharat would secure a victory in Shiggaon against Congressman Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan. It also predicted JD(S) retaining Channapatna. However, Yogeshwar and Shivakumar rejected the forecast, dismissing it as a “pre-poll” exercise at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru on Friday.

Channapatna charge mine: DKS Shivakumar also took responsibility for the Channapatna results. When it was pointed out that he had declared himself as good as the candidate in Channapatna, he said: “Yes, I am the candidate in Channapatna. The credit for victory or loss must go to me. I am the one who issued the ticket to CP Yogeshwar. I was the face of the election. We are confident of winning.” “The exit poll predictions will be reversed tomorrow. Congress will win all three seats,” Shivakumar said