Congress wins Jayanagar seat, party's tally goes up to 80 in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The Congress on Wednesday won the election in Bengaluru's Jayanagar constituency in Karnataka, where assembly polls were held on June 11. Congress now has 80 seats in the assembly.

Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy defeated BJP's B N Prahlad to win the Jayanagar seat by over 2,800 votes.

According to election officials, Congress' Sowmya Reddy secured 54,457 votes against her nearest rival from the BJP, B N Prahlad, who managed 51,568 votes. Counting of votes begun on Wednesday morning for Jayanagar Assembly constituency.

This was the first election after the JD(S)-Congress combine came to power in the state in which they put up a united fight against the BJP.

While Congress candidate Sowmya Reddy was leading with 27,195 votes till 10 am, BJP's B N Prahlad had secured 19,873 votes, poll officials said.

Congress workers celebrate outside counting centre in Bengaluru after party candidate Sowmya Reddy leads over BJP's BN Prahlad in Jayanagar assembly constituency. (Photo: ANI/Twitter)

The Assembly elections were held across Karnataka on May 12, but poll in Jayanagar was countermanded following the death of BJP candidate B N Vijayakumar, who was holding the seat.

An estimated 55 per cent polling was recorded in the constituency on June 11.

BJP's B N Prahlad, brother of Vijayakumar, and senior Congress leader and former minister Ramalinga Reddy's daughter Sowmya Reddy were locked in a direct contest for the seat.

In all, 19 candidates were in the fray. Police have made elaborate security arrangement in and around the counting centre.

Ahead of polls, Janata Dal Secular had on June 5 pulled out its candidate from the contest and extended the party's support to its ruling coalition partner, the Congress.

(With inputs from agencies)