Karnataka’s ruling coalition partner Congress yesterday wrested the high-profile Jayanagar assembly seat here from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party, with its candidate Sowmya Reddy winning by a slender margin of 2,889 votes.
Of the total 111,580 votes polled, Reddy secured 54,457 votes against 51,568 by the BJP’s B N Prahlad, a poll official said.
The vote was held on Monday since after it was earlier postponed following the death of BJP contestant B N Vijaya Kumar on May 4, ahead of the May 12 assembly election.
The BJP fielded Kumar’s younger brother Prahlad, 57, in the fray against Sowmya, 35, the daughter of former state home minister Ramalinga Reddy, who also won from the neighbouring BTM Layout segment.
The withdrawal of Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) candidate Kalegowda on June 5 in support of the Congress made it easier for Reddy to take on Prahlad and 17 other contestants.
Amidst bursting of firecrackers and frenzied celebrations at home, Reddy said the victory belonged to all party workers.
“This is a collective victory of all the Congress workers and guidance of my father,” an elated Reddy told reporters.
A rights activist and former member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), she has been a member of the youth and women wings of the Congress’ state unit.
Reddy is the lone woman legislator from Bengaluru’s 28 assembly segments and the youngest first-time lawmaker in the state.
With her win, the Congress has five women legislators in the 225-member assembly, against three from the BJP and none from the ruling coalition partner JD-S.
Jubilant scenes were witnessed at Reddy’s home, while the BJP’s state unit office was forlorn.
Prahlad said he would continue to work for the constituency despite the defeat. “Democracy has its ups and downs. Setbacks give an opportunity to become stronger. Myself and the BJP will continue to work for the people of Jayanagar. We will rise again, sooner than most think! Congratulations to Congress and Sowmya Reddy,” he tweeted.
According to a poll analyst, Reddy won because of her connect with the young voters.
“She won because many new and young electorate voted for her and the withdrawal of JD-S candidate benefited her, as secular votes did not get split between Congress and JD-S,” the analyst said.
With wins in Raja Rajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru southwest on May 31 and Jayanagar now, the Congress tally in the assembly has gone up to 79, against 36 of JD-S and 104 of BJP. Of the 28 seats in Bengaluru, the Congress has 15, BJP 11 and JD-S 2.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah and several party leaders and cabinet ministers congratulated Reddy for her victory.
Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy acknowledges the greetings of her supporters after her win from Jayanagar yesterday.
