Bengaluru | Mysuru: The initial trends in the biennial elections to the state Legislative Council for six teachers and graduates constituencies indicate that the ruling JD(S) is set to win three seats while the BJP may have to be content with three.
For the BJP, the results are a big blow as it had won four of the six constituencies earlier.
The result of the South Teachers Constituency is already out with JD(S) candidate Marithibbegowda, who is Deputy Chairman in the Council, winning by a margin of 360 votes over his nearest rival, M. Laxman of the Congress. Speaking to mediapersons, Mr Marithibbegowda said, “This result is a victory for the Congress-JD (S) coalition government. Taking everyone into confidence, I will strive for basic facilities for teachers and students.”
The BJP candidate Y.A. Narayanaswamy won from South-West Teachers constituency by over 2,000 votes against his nearest rival, Ramesh Babu of JD(S). Sitting BJP member and opposition whip in the Council, Capt. Ganesh Karnik lost in the South- East Teachers constituency to JD(S) candidate Bojegowda.
In South- West Graduates constituency, BJP candidate Ayanoor Manjunath has taken a lead over JD(S) candidate Arun Kumar with the counting of second preferential votes underway. Mr Manjunath is leading by more than 500 votes over his nearest rival Arun Kumar when reports last came in.
Another surprising result was from Bengaluru Graduates constituency where JD(S) candidate, Acche Gowda Shivanna has taken a lead over his rival Congress candidate with BJP candidate A. Devegowda pushed to third position.
The JD(S) candidate Prathap Reddy has taken a lead in the North- East Graduates constituency with BJP candidate K.B. Srinivas trailing by 1250 votes. Except for South Teachers and South- West Teachers constituencies, results of the remaining four constituencies will be delayed with counting of second preferential votes underway, say BJP sources.
