Karnataka Bypolls Results 2024: Congress wins all three seats, DK Shivakumar calls it 'Message from people'

Karnataka Bypolls Results 2024: The bypolls to Sandur, Shiggaon and Channapatna were necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the election of their respective representatives- E Tukaram of Congress, former CM Basavaraj Bommai of BJP, and Kumaraswamy to Lok Sabha in May polls.

Karnataka Bypolls Results 2024: While the Congress may have lost out in the critical state of Maharashtra it has some reason to cheer in Karnataka having won all the three assembly bypolls. Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan defeated former CM Basavaraj Bommai's son in Shiggaon while BJP turncoat CP Yogeshwara defeated HD Kumaraswamy's son by a massive margin in Channapatna.

The Congress Annapoorna Tukaram accepted the winning certificate from the returning officer after securing 93,616 votes, defeating BJP's Bangara Hanumantha by 9,649 votes in Sandur.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar today (November 23) celebrated Congress's victory in the by polls calling it a message from the people. Shivakumar praised the Congress victory, stating, "I don't say it is a defeat of Bharath Bommai, it's a message from the people for what his father did. Only two things work - development and guarantees. It is a message from the people that allegations should stop, and concentration should be on work. This is the beginning, and we will come back to power in 2028."

DK Shivakumar also targeted the BJP saying they had made a number of allegations against the CM but nothing worked for them. Time and again both parties criticised us and blamed us. We are spending around Rs Fifty-five thousand crore for the people, for development. People are utilising the gurhalakshmi, gruhajyothi and other schemes. This is just a beginning that we will come back to power in 2028 again. Opposition parties made several allegations on CM, Ministers and govt, all false allegations never worked for BJP and JDS," he said.

"Kamala (lotus) should be in the lake, JDS must be in field ( a pun on the JDS symbol). You should see your face in the mirror that now people rejected your allegations which you made on Chief minister. In Shiggaon, in Sandur and in Channapattana people have rejected the statements made by the BJP and NDA leaders. Their alliance will never work in Karnataka, he added.

In October, ahead of the elections, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai had said, "Since Shiggaon is the constituency I represent, I carry a greater responsibility. Our party's Karnataka in-charge secretary, Radha Mohan Agarwal, visited the constituency and held meetings with local leaders to gather feedback. We are fully prepared for the election there, and I am confident of receiving substantial support. I believe we will secure a winning margin similar to the 36,000 votes I received in the previous election."

Early trends had initially shown Bharath Bommai leading, as counting began for the 2024 Jharkhand and Maharashtra Assembly Elections alongside bypoll results from 15 states. The bypolls were held across 48 assembly seats and two Lok Sabha seats. 

With Nikhil Kumaraswamy and Bharath Bommai contesting, the third generation of Gowda and Bommai families were in the fray in this bypoll battle. Both their fathers and grandfathers have served as Karnataka's chief ministers in the past.

Channapatna seat

In Channapatna, which witnessed a high profile battle, among the three segments, JD(S)' actor-turned-politician Nikhil Kumaraswamy, who is the son of Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson fought against Congress' CP Yogeeshwara.

A five-time MLA from the segment and a former minister, Yogeeshwara, who is also an actor-turned-politician had joined the Congress after quitting the BJP ahead of his nomination. BJP and JD(S) leaders had together campaigned for Nikhil in Channapatna.

Shiggaon seat

In Shiggaon, BJP's Bharath Bommai, son of Basavaraj Bommai fought against Congress' Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan, who had faced defeat against the former chief minister in the 2023 Assembly polls. 

Sandur seat

In Sandur, Bellary MP Tukaram's wife E Annapurna of Congress fought against BJP ST Morcha president Bangaru Hanumanthu.