Sadananda Gowda's victory in bypoll

BANGALORE: Demolishing all apprehensions over his continuation as chief minister of Karnataka, DV Sadananda Gowda comfortably sailed through in the bypoll for the lone legislative council seat on Thursday and in the process gave a strong signal to all his detractors within the BJP.
Of the total 199 votes polled, Gowda secured 123 votes and his rival Anand Gaddadevaramath from the Congress got 69 votes.Seven votes were declared invalid. In the 225 member legislative assembly, the JD(S) with its 26 MLAs abstained from voting. The pattern of voting has showed certain discrepancies on both sides. Taking assured support of five Independent MLAs, the ruling BJP with strength of 122 should have got 127 votes, but secured 4 votes less. Even the Congress with 71 members, fell short by two of their party's strength.
Among the seven invalid votes, the vote cast by Kallakappa Bandi of the BJP was termed invalid as he showed the CM who was present at the venue that he had voted for him. As the nature of poll was through secret ballot and both Gowda and Anand secured less votes than their official strength, chances of cross voting was less.
Expressing unhappiness over invalid votes, Gowda said MLAs being law makers should have excercised caution before voting. However, he said, all the seven invalid votes were marked for him. "Due to some technical reasons in marking, they have been considered invalid," he said. After the results were announced, a visibly elated Gowda walked towards the jubliant party workers along with former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa.
The run up to this legislative council seat had all the drama with even doubts being raised whether Gowda would emerge victorious. However, the absence by JD(S) on the day of the polling ensured that Gowda would sail through very comfortably against Anand. Gowda, who is a MP from Udupi-Chikmagalur, had to get elected from either House of the Karnataka legislature to ensure his continuation as chief minister of the state.
The role played by the JD(S) in Thursday's election was surprising as they have stridently opposed the BJP especially during Yeddyurappa’s chief ministership. The BJP opened a channel of communication with the JD(S) and five independent MLAs as there were fears that some of its own MLAs would vote against the chief minister. It is understood that JD(S) supported Gowda as he hails from the Vokkaliga community and there seems to be some affinity on that count. More importantly, the JD(S) was keen to curb the influence of Yeddyurappa within the BJP. The CM thanked JD(S) leaders for extending cooperation.
More than strategy of the opposition parties, the BJP was worried about the stand of its own MLAs. This speculation was fuelled on two counts: rebel BJP MLA B Sriramulu’s declaration that he would ensure the defeat of Gowda and Yeddyurappa making all the noises of becoming the CM once again. Sriramulu, who was formerly a minister in the BJP government and quit the party had publicly declared that he has the support 22 MLAs after winning the Bellary bypoll as an Independent. On the day of polling all the bravado shown by Sriramulu was missing as he came alone, voted and went away without any presence of his supporting MLAs.
But the picture was pathetic for the Congress . There were murmurs within the party over the candidature. Gone was the confidence which Congress leaders G Parameshwara and Siddaramaiah demonstrated on Wednesday about winning. The explanation given for the defeat on Thursday was the candidate was fielded banking on JD(S) and Sriramulu’s support, none of which came.