Sun Nov 24 01:25:00 UTC 2024: ## Congress Wins Channapatna By-Election, Dealing Blow to JD(S)

**Ramanagara, Karnataka (November 24, 2024):** The Congress party secured a resounding victory in the Channapatna by-election in Karnataka, snatching the seat from the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) by a margin of over 26,000 votes. This win marks a significant setback for the JD(S), which considered Channapatna a key stronghold in its traditional Vokkaliga heartland.

The defeat is particularly stinging for JD(S) candidate Nikhil Kumaraswamy, son of former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and grandson of H.D. Deve Gowda, marking his third consecutive electoral loss. Kumaraswamy’s campaign, despite emotional appeals and a comparison to the Mahabharata’s Abhimanyu, failed to resonate with voters.

While the JD(S) is yet to fully analyze the reasons for the defeat, initial assessments point to several factors. The consolidation of Muslim votes and support from Scheduled Castes and backward classes towards the Congress are cited as key contributors. The JD(S)’s alliance with the BJP-led NDA is believed to have alienated Muslim voters. Furthermore, a split in the Vokkaliga vote bank, a traditionally strong base for the JD(S), also played a role. The active participation of JD(S) leaders from backward classes and Scheduled Castes in the BJP’s election campaign is also seen as a contributing factor to the loss.

Congress candidate C.P. Yogeshwar significantly increased his vote share compared to the 2023 Assembly elections, while Kumaraswamy’s vote count actually decreased. Despite negative comments made by a Congress minister and defections within the JD(S) local council, these factors did not appear to significantly impact the election outcome.

The Channapatna by-election was also seen as a contest between Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and H.D. Kumaraswamy for leadership within the Vokkaliga community. The Congress victory is interpreted by many as solidifying Shivakumar’s position. The repeated attacks on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah by H.D. Deve Gowda during the campaign are also believed to have rallied support for the Congress among backward classes.

The Congress win represents a comeback in the Old Mysore region after suffering losses in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. The high voter turnout of 88.81% further underscores the significance of this by-election result.

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