Karnataka bypolls 2021: BJP wins Sindgi seat, Congress ahead in Hangal

Bengaluru, Nov 02: The counting of votes for Karnataka bypolls 2021 is underway. Ramesh Bhusanur of BJP wins Sindgi seat by a margin of 31,185 votes. BJP's Ramesh secured 93,865 while his Congress' Ashok Managuli has secured 62,680 votes.

In Hangal, Congress' Srinivas Mane is leading by a margin of over 4,844 votes, securing 40,785 so far, while his closest rival Shivaraj Sajjanar of BJP has secured 36,066 votes. JD(S) candidates Naziya Shakeel Ahmed Angadi from Sindgi and Niyaz Shaikh from Hangal are trailing in a distant third position.

The by-elections have been necessitated as the seats fell vacant following the death of Sindgi JD(S) legislator M C Managuli and BJP's C M Udasi from Hangal.

While Ramesh Bhusanur, who came second behind Managuli in 2018 polls, is the BJP candidate from Sindgi, Shivaraj Sajjanar is its candidate from Hangal constituency.

The Congress has named M C Managuli's son Ashok Managuli, who has joined the party, as its candidate from Sindgi, while former MLC Srinivas Mane is its candidate from Hangal.

The JD(S), which was the first to announce its candidates, has fielded 33-year-old post graduate Naziya Shakeel Ahmed Angadi from Sindgi and 35-year-old B.E, M.Tech graduate Niyaz Shaikh from Hangal.

This is the first electoral challenge for Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after taking charge. Retaining Hangal is even more important for him as it is the neighbouring constituency to his Shiggaon assembly segment.

The Congress, by ensuring a win, wants to give momentum for its preparations in the run up to 2023 assembly polls in the state, while the JD(S) is looking to retain Sindgi seat and thereby prove that it still commands a support base in the northern districts.

Congress leaders have alleged that the JD(S) deliberately fielded minority candidates for the Hangal and Sindgi by-elections to help the BJP.