Congress suffers blow in Devadurga as BJP candidate Shivanagowda Naik wins

Devadurga, Feb 16: Bharatiya Janata Party has managed to snatch Devadurga assembly seat from Congress party in the recently held bypoll to the three assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

After the 18th and last round of counting, K Shivanagowda Naik of BJP has bagged 72,645 votes while Congress candidate Rajashekhar Naik secured only 55768 votes. Karyamma of JD(S) bagged 9156 votes.

The result is a setback for Congress. The by election was held after popular Congress MLA A Venkatesh Naik A was killed in a rail accident in August 2015.

The accident occurred when Bengaluru-Nanded Express (Train No: 16594) in which Naik was travelling was rammed by a granite laden truck at a level crossing near Madakashira village between Rangepalli and Penugonda Stations in Anantapur district on Dharmavaram Section of Bengaluru division of South Western Railway, leading to the derailment of four coaches and killing six people, including Naik.

Congress had fielded departed leader Venkatesh Naik’s son Rajashekhar Naik from the constituency. 12 ministers, including Chief Minister, campaigned for the Congress.

“Voters rejected Congress. People voted for me considering the developmental work that I had undertaken in Devadurga constituency during my tenure as MLA and Minister. This result would boost morale of party workers and have positive impact on imminent Panchayat polls, " said K Shivanagowda Naik, outside vote counting Centre in Raichur after the last round of counting was completed.

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