Bhatkal: The ruling Congress in Karnataka celebrated a sweeping victory in the recently concluded Legislative Assembly bypolls, winning all three contested seats: Channapatna, Shiggaon, and Sandur.

The elections, held on November 13, saw a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP-JD(S) alliance. Congress managed to wrest Channapatna from the JD(S) and Shiggaon from the BJP, while retaining Sandur. These seats were vacated after their 2023 Assembly winners opted to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

In Channapatna, JD(S) fielded Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, on an NDA ticket. Congress countered with five-time MLA C.P. Yogeshwar, who emerged victorious. In Shiggaon, former CM Basavaraj Bommai's son, Bharat Bommai, faced Congress’ Yasir Ahmed Khan but lost. Meanwhile, in Sandur, Congress' E. Annapurna, wife of former MLA E. Tukaram, defeated BJP’s Bangaru Hanumanthu.

Karnataka Congress President and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed gratitude to voters, attributing the victory to the party’s pro-development agenda, guarantees, and the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah. He highlighted the increased Assembly strength from 136 to 138 and described the results as a precursor to the 2028 state elections.

“The guarantees and development initiatives resonated with voters. People rejected false propaganda and emotional manipulation. They have sent a clear message that politics must prioritize livelihoods,” Shivakumar remarked.

He further stated that Congress had allocated ₹56,000 crore for development, ensuring ₹225-250 crore for each constituency. Referring to Sandur’s turnaround, where the BJP had led by over 30,000 votes in 2023, he noted Congress’ current lead of 14,000 votes as a testament to public trust.

Shivakumar dismissed allegations from the Opposition and criticized their reliance on baseless propaganda. He also underscored the failure of prominent BJP leaders, including those with mining connections, to sway the Sandur electorate.