Bypolls verdict: It's a sweet revenge for Congress in Nanjangud and Gundlupet

Geetha, wife of former minister HS Mahadeva Prasad, won her maiden test at the hustings. She secured 90,258 votes and her BJP counterpart Niranjan Kumar was polled 79,381 votes.

Bypolls in the constituency was necessitated after her husband and minister HS Mahadeva Prasad died of heart attack, last year. She was the natural choice of Congress.

In fact, Geetha's victory was certain in many aspects, considering late minister HS Mahadeva Prasad's popularity in the constituency.

Besides, BJP MP Prathap Simha’s rude comments on Geetha’s entry to politics could have also helped her gaining advantage over BJP.

Interestingly, this is the third-time Niranjan Kumar is losing to Prasad family. Despite Yeddyurappa doing a hectic campaign in the constituency, it did not help Niranjan.

Speaking after winning the polls, Geetha told reporters that she will continue her husband's good work in the constituency.

It is a sweet revenge for Kalale Keshavamurthy who had lost twice to giant dalit leader and three-time MLA V Srinivas Prasad in Nanjangud constituency. The constituency went to bypolls as Srinivas Prasad defected to BJP after he was dropped from the cabinet. Kalale Keshavamurthy was polled 86,212 votes while former minister Prasad secured 64,878 votes. The margin was 21,334 votes.

It may be recalled here that Srinivas Prasad had stated that the party disrespected him and the voters by dropping him from the cabinet. “I’m hurt by the party. But I will go to people to earn my self-respect again,” Prasad had told earlier.

Later, speaking after his defeat at his residence in Mysuru, Srinivas Prasad alleged that Congress bought voters in the last three days of campaigning and everyone knows about it. He demanded a thorough probe into the alleged cash flow in the constituency.  

• bypolls in gundlupet and nanjangud constituencies
• geetha mahadeva prasad and kalale keshavamurthy
• v srinivas prasad