Faction fight led to Ramya’s defeat?

A hoarding in Mandya blaming housing minister MH Ambareesh for the defeat of Congress candidate Ramya has created ripples. Ambareesh’s fans removed the board on Sunday and demanded action against those who put it up, indicating that factional politics rages in the town even now.
Coincidentally, Ramya has vacated the house she had taken on rent during the elections. The actress is upset over her defeat by a narrow margin (around 5,500 votes) to JD(S) candidate CS Puttaraju.In a byelection less than a year ago, she had trounced Puttaraju by 62,000 votes. In politically volatile Mandya, the Congress has two factions: One of former chief minister SM Krishna, and the other of Ambareesh. Besides, one can find “leaders“ in every hobli and village.
After her victory last year, Ramya toured the constituency to connect with the people. While doing so, she reportedly didn't take local leaders into confidence. Her detractors complain that she never acknowledged them, leading to a cold war between Ambareesh and her.
Before the polls, Ambareesh fell ill and was hospitalized. Some statements of Ramya further alienated her from his supporters. To make things worse, Ambareesh and Ramya were involved in a war of words a couple of days before polling.
Though Ramya had won last year, the constituency was never a cakewalk for her. Mandya has been a JD(S) stronghold. Of the eight assembly segments in the parliamen tary constituency, five are held by the JD(S), two by the Congress and one by the Sarovodaya Karnataka Party.
Here, neither Narendra Modi nor Arvind Kejriwal made any impact. The BJP got just 86,993 votes, while AAP secured 4,098.The fight was between the JD(S) and the Congress.
As Puttaraju had lost twice in a year – in the May 2013 assembly polls and in the Lok Sabha bypoll – he had the advantage of a sympathy factor. This time around, JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda made an emotional appeal to his leaders in the district to set their differences aside and work unitedly.
Unlike in the past, JD(S) put up a spirited effort under the leadership of MLA and former minister N Cheluvarayaswamy, ensuring Puttaraju’s victory. As of now, Ramya has said she will continue to work in Mandya and serve its people.