Siddaramaiah is struggling in Chamundeshwari, a seat that has elected him five times in the past.
Highlights
- Siddaramaiah wins in Badami where he was up against BJP's B Sriramulu
- He lost in Chamundeshwari where he had won 5 times in the past
- The Congress won Badami in 2013 and before this, the BJP won in 2008
Karnataka's outgoing
chief minister Siddaramaiah of the Congress won Badami but lost in Chamundeshwari as votes were counted on Tuesday. Siddaramaiah defeated B Sriramulu of the BJP in Badami, an important seat in the Bagalkot district, which falls in what is known as the "Mumbai-Karnataka region" of the state.
Siddaramaiah wanted to contest in Badami because of his doubts over Chamundeshwari.
According to results declared by the Election Commission, Siddaramaiah won in Badami by a narrow margin of 1,696 votes over BJP's B Sriramulu.
Siddaramaiah had earlier given up his own seat Varuna, for his son Yathindra.
The Congress won Badami in 2013 and before this, the BJP won in 2008.
With a population of over 50,000, Badami has many from Siddaramaiah's Kuruba community. It also has a sizeable population of Lingayats and Veerashaivas.
The BJP, determined not to give Siddaramaiah a walkover, fielded Sriramulu, a parliamentarian who is known for a solid record of winning elections.
Sriramulu, a close aide of the powerful Reddy brothers of Ballari, has been talked about as a deputy chief minister if the BJP comes to power. The 46-year-old, who had performed a
gau puja (cow worship) on election day on Saturday, began his day
with elaborate puja rituals.
Siddaramaiah lost to the Janata Dal Secular candidate GT Deve Gowda - his former party - in Chamundeshwari, a seat that has elected him five times in the past.
Chamundeshwari is in the Mysore district and falls within the "Southern Karnataka region" of the state.