Bengaluru: BJP observers had considered Bengaluru North a tough seat to win. The sitting MP, D.V. Sadananda Gowda, was pitted against Congress candidate and State Rural Development Minister Krishna Byregowda. Mr Gowda faced a tough battle, because during the 2018 assembly elections BJP could win only the Malleswaram assembly segment within the Bengaluru North Lok Sabha constituency.
The other assembly segments — K.R. Puram, Byatarayanapura, Yeshvanthapura, Dasarahalli, Hebbal and Pulakeshinagar were won by Congress, while Mahalakshmi Layout was held by a JD(S) candidate. Hence, even within BJP circles there were doubts whether Mr Gowda will be re-elected.
It is also unclear whether Mr Byregowda was keen to go to Parliament. However the remaining five Congress MLAs of Bengaluru North Lok Sabha segment had hoped that if he goes onto win, then they can stake claim to his ministerial berth.
All Congress the MLAs in the assembly constituency had tirelessly worked for Mr Byregowda. However the strong Narendra Modi wave helped Mr Gowda have the last laugh.
