Congress Adds Another Seat To Its Tally In Karnataka, Wins Bengaluru’s Jayanagar By A Narrow Margin

The Congress has won the election in Bengaluru's Jayanagar constituency in Karnataka, adding another seat to its tally, the Times of India has reported.

Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy defeated Bharatiya Janaya Party (BJP) candidate BN Prahlad by a narrow margin of 2,889 votes. While the Congress candidate got 54,457 votes, the BJP candidate got 51,568. Around 55 per cent polling was recorded in the constituency on 11 June. Unlike in the recent Rajarajeshwari Nagar poll, Janata Dal (Secular) had pulled out its candidate from the race.

The assembly elections were held across the state on 12 May. However, the Election Commission deferred polling in Jayanagar after the death of BJP candidate BN Vijayakumar, who was the sitting MLA from the constituency.

While the BJP candidate who lost the election is a Vijayakumar’s brother, the Congress candidate is a daughter of senior party leader and former minister Ramalinga Reddy. He has represented Jayanagar four times and has now shifted to the adjoining constituency of BTM Layout.