New Delhi: Polling for high-stakes by-elections in three segments of the Karnataka Assembly is underway, with a tight race between the ruling parties congress and a combative BJP-JD(S) alliance.
In crucial Channapatna seat, CP Yogeshwar leads by 24,252 votes in 14th round of polls; 84,166 secured Nikhil Coomaraswamy59,914.
The by-election was triggered by the vacancy left after Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy was elected to the Lok Sabha.
parliamentary election results
This set the stage for a crucial battle in the heart of Vokkaliga, in which political legacy and community support played an important role.
Nikhil, son of former CM HD Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, is seeking to retain the family stronghold.
On the other hand, veteran five-time MLA and former minister Yogeshwara is determined to break the JD(S) dominance by uniting the Congress base.
For Nikhil, victory would be a political comeback after defeats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the 2023 Assembly elections. His family legacy is deeply rooted in the region and he is focused on the development and welfare of the Vokkaliga community, which has historically supported the JD(S).
The result is equally important for the Congress as victory will strengthen the position of deputy minister DK Shivakumar and his brother and former MP DK Suresh in their home constituency of Ramanagara, further cementing their influence in the Vokkaliga stronghold.
Yogeshwara, who quit the BJP to join the Congress, has portrayed himself as a changemaker. With extensive political experience, he promised improved infrastructure and social welfare programs to appeal to voters in the region.
