Bangalore: The Karnataka Congress secured its maiden victory on Tuesday against the recently forged JD(S)-BJP alliance in the state, triumphing in a Legislative Council bypoll for the Bangalore Teachers’ seat. P Puttanna, the Congress candidate, emerged victorious by defeating JD(S) nominee A P Ranganath. This win serves as a setback for the nascent JD(S)-BJP alliance in the state, with Puttanna clinching his fifth consecutive win in the constituency.

Puttanna, who was previously a BJP MLC before joining the Congress, had vacated the seat in March 2023 to contest the Assembly elections on a Congress ticket, only to lose. The bypoll was necessitated by his resignation. Despite the BJP conceding the seat to its new ally JD(S), Puttanna's victory showcases the support he garnered, even after switching parties.

In the election, Puttanna secured 8,260 votes, defeating Ranganath by a margin of 1,507. The turnout saw 16,063 votes cast, with 10,106 female voters participating. Although 1,000 votes were rejected, the valid votes determined the outcome. The victory was particularly gratifying for the Congress, with Karnataka Congress chief and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar emphasizing its significance.

Shivakumar highlighted the rejection of the BJP-JD(S) alliance by educated voters, asserting that the same sentiment would prevail in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. He dismissed claims by some BJP-JD(S) leaders about the bypoll being an indicator of future outcomes.

The bypoll, held on February 16, served as a litmus test for the BJP-JD(S) alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Despite the alliance, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah expressed confidence in the Congress's victory, citing Puttanna's track record of defeating both the BJP and JD(S) candidates in the past.

However, while this victory boosts Congress morale, it will not affect the composition of the Legislative Council, where the BJP-JD(S) alliance holds a majority. With 34 BJP members, 29 from the Congress, 8 from JD(S), and 1 Independent, along with the chairman and two vacancies, the alliance maintains control over the 75-member House.