Congress party workers in Bagalkot are celebrating as Umesh Meti, the party candidate, has secured a significant lead of 17,205 votes after the 21st round of counting. With only two rounds left, a Congress victory appears imminent. Supporters have been jubilant, maintaining the lead consistently from the first round to the 21st, with celebrations including firecrackers and displaying portraits of Umesh Meti.
In the Bagalkot Assembly segment, Umesh Meti maintains a comfortable lead of 17,205 votes over BJP candidate Veeranna Charantimath at the end of the 21st round of counting. Umesh Meti has garnered 87,624 votes, while Veeranna Charantimath has received 70,419 votes. The counting is in its final stages with only two rounds left to determine the outcome.
The bye-election in Bagalkot was triggered by the unfortunate passing of H.Y. Meti, leading to his son, Umesh Meti, contesting directly against BJP’s Veeranna Charantimath. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah actively campaigned for the Congress candidate in the region.
In the closely watched Davanagere South constituency, BJP’s Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa continues to lag behind Congress candidate Samarth Mallikarjun. After the 11th round of counting, Srinivasa has 29,503 votes compared to Samarth Mallikarjun’s 37,419 votes. The counting process involves a total of 21 rounds.
The Davanagere South bypoll was called following the demise of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, with the party nominating his grandson, Samarth Mallikarjun, while the BJP fielded Srinivasa T. Dasakariyappa, a leader from marginalized communities.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed optimism about the Congress’s prospects in the Davanagere and Bagalkot by-elections, foreseeing victory. He acknowledged the possibility of a narrower margin in Davanagere but remained confident in the party’s success.
