The party's grassroots-level efforts led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar along with Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Santosh Lad proved instrumental in ensuring the clean sweep.
Published Nov 24, 2024 | 2:12 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 24, 2024 | 8:19 PM
Congress emerged victorious in all the three assembly segments in the by-polls. (Supplied)
Demonstrating effective strategy and relentless groundwork, the Congress on Saturday, 23 November, secured a resounding victory in all three seats where Assembly bypolls were held in Karnataka, outperforming the NDA alliance of BJP and JD(S).
The party’s grassroots-level efforts led by Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar along with Ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Santosh Lad proved instrumental in ensuring the clean sweep.
Despite the Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) raising several issues including the Waqf land row and the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and Valmiki Corporation scam, the grand old party approached the election strategically, by assigning specific tasks to cabinet ministers, yielded overwhelming results.
The groundwork of the ruling party leaders and ministers helped it to such an extent that its candidates in all three seats managed to garner over 50 percent votes in their respective seats for the maiden time since the last three elections.
With its victory in the Assembly bypolls, the Congress increased its tally in the Legislative Assembly from 135 to 137 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP’s count decreased from 66 to 65 seats, and the JD(S)’s dropped from 19 to 18.
The Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha and the Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha hold one seat each, while independents account for two seats.
Shivakumar, along with his brother and former Congress MP DK Suresh, played a pivotal role in securing the victory of five-time MLA CP Yogeeshwara in the Channapatna Assembly seat.
The bypoll in Channapatna was necessitated after MLA HD Kumaraswamy, the Union minister for Steel and Heavy Industries, vacated the seat following his victory in Mandya for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
During the 13 November polling, the people of Channapatna demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm by recording an impressive voter turnout of 88.81 percent. The results were declared on 23 November.
Yogeeshwara defeated NDA candidate, JD(S) youth wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy, by a huge margin of 25, 413 votes. Yogeeshwara secured 1,12,642 votes, 54.33 percent of the total. Nikhil, son of Union Minister Kumaraswamy, received 87,229 votes (42.07%).
Congress spokesperson Natraj Gowda credited Shivakumar and Suresh for their relentless campaigning, which he said was instrumental in the party’s victory in Channapatna.
“DK Shivakumar started campaigning much earlier, in August, than the Opposition. Shivakumar and Suresh began mobilising support at the panchayat level even before the bypoll dates were announced and initiated several development works,” said Gowda.
“The party leadership adopted a tactical approach by deploying ministers, legislators, and workers strategically across all three constituencies. The party stressed on the micro management not just in Channapatna but in Sandur and Shiggaon as well,” noted Gowda.
“Ministers were assigned tasks at the Zilla Panchayat level, while legislators were given responsibilities at the panchayat level, with Shivakumar personally monitoring the coordination. These collective efforts within the cadre were key to our victory,” Gowda said and added that the elections were fought with unity.
When asked about specific roles, Gowda elaborated, “The party assigned targeted tasks to several ministers. Minister for Waqf and Housing Zameer Ahmed Khan focused on consolidating minority votes, while DK Shivakumar and DK Suresh concentrated on uniting the Vokkaliga vote bank.”
He further noted the contribution of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who campaigned for three days in Channapatna.
“The party worked extensively at the grassroots level to address weaknesses and consolidate support among Vokkaligas, minorities and backward classes under Shivakumar’s leadership,” Gowda added.
Congress’ collective leadership, combined with the strategic consolidation of AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) votes led by ministers like Satish Jarkiholi, propelled the ruling party to a historic victory in the Shiggaon Assembly segment, marking its first win there in three decades.
The bypoll was necessitated for the Shiggaon seat as sitting MLA Basavaraj Bommai vacated after his victory from the Haveri-Gadag parliament seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. It saw a strong voter turnout of 80.72 percent.
Congress candidate Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan emerged victorious, defeating BJP’s Bharath Bommai — son of Basavaraj Bommai — by a margin of 13,448 votes. Khan secured 1,00,756 votes (52.41%) while Bommai garnered 86,960 (45.41%).
“In the past four Assembly elections, Congress had fielded Muslim candidates from the Shiggaon seat but failed to secure a win. However, this time, the party succeeded in consolidating AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits) votes, thanks to the leadership of Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi,” Political commentator Ashok Chandaragi told South First.
“Previously, the campaigns for Muslim candidates lacked seriousness and often took a communal turn. But in this bypoll, Congress managed to unite AHINDA votes, which include a significant 18,000 ST [Scheduled Tribe] votes in the constituency,” Chandaragi explained.
“Congress took this bypoll seriously, as the ruling party was determined to avoid another defeat. From Satish Jarkiholi to Zameer Ahmed Khan to Shivananda Patil, each worked to consolidate AHINDA and Panchamasali (a sub-sect of Lingayat) votes.”
“DK Shivakumar initially considered giving the ticket to a Lingayat candidate, as the last four opportunities had gone to Muslims from Shiggaon. He was opposed to fielding a Muslim candidate. However, the party decided to give the ticket to Yasir Ahmed Khan Pathan and appointed Satish Jarkiholi as the in-charge for the bypolls,” he added.
He said Siddaramaiah entrusted Jarkiholi with the responsibility for Shiggaon who did not rest on his laurels and campaigned for nearly two weeks to successfully consolidate AHINDA votes.
“Zameer Ahmed Khan also played a key role, not only consolidating Muslim votes but also addressing internal dissent among the cadre. These combined efforts ultimately helped Congress break BJP’s stronghold in Shiggaon,” Chandaragi added.
Congress continued its winning streak in the Sandur Assembly seat, reserved for the Scheduled Tribe, securing its fifth consecutive victory in the Assembly bypoll.
This success was largely attributed to Labour Minister Santosh Lad, who addressed internal dissent within the party’s followers.
The bypoll was necessitated for the Sandur (ST) seat after MLA E Tukaram won from the Bellary parliament seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Sandur Assembly constituency recorded 76.24 percent voter turnout on 13 November.
Congress candidate Annapoorna Tukaram, wife of MP Tukaram, triumphed over BJP’s Bangara Hanumantha by a margin of 9,649 votes. Annapoorna secured 93,616 votes (51.59%) of the total polled votes, while Hanumantha garnered 83,967 votes (46.6%).
“When the bypoll dates were announced, several party workers strongly opposed giving the ticket to Tukaram’s family. Dissenting members approached Santosh Lad, urging the party to field a fresh face rather than prioritising the same family,” Ballari-based political commentator Mundaragi Nagaraj told South First.
“Lad acted swiftly to address the dissent, convincing the party’s followers that the victory mattered more than the candidate. He assured them the party would consider a new face in the upcoming elections. After these assurances, the dissenters withdrew their objections and committed to working in unity for the by-polls,” Nagaraj explained.
Highlighting Lad’s influence in Sandur, Nagaraj said: “Lad stayed in Sandur from the beginning of the campaigning till the polling was concluded. It’s important to note that Sandur was once his seat, which he had to vacate when it was reserved for STs in 2008. Despite no longer representing the seat, Lad has maintained strong connections with every village in the constituency.”
“Remarkably, people trust him more than anyone else in Sandur. He is affectionately known as ‘Dada,’ and his influence in the region is enormous. Lad ensured he campaigned in every village. Congress garnered maximum support from the rural areas than the urban or towns in the bypoll,” Nagaraj added, emphasising Lad’s role in securing the victory.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
