BJP-JDS alliance wins from South West constituencies

Mangaluru: Withstanding the rebellion, the BJP-JD(S) alliance has emerged victorious in the MLC election for the Southwest Teachers' and Southwest Graduates' Constituencies.

The constituencies covered Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Shivamogga districts, and the Channagiri and Honnali taluks of Davangere district.

JD(S) leader and sitting MLC Bhoje Gowda, the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate for the Teachers' Constituency, and Dr. Dhananjay Sirji, the BJP candidate for the Graduate Constituency, secured victory in the election.

Ayanur Manjunath, the sitting MLC for the Graduate Constituency who previously won on a BJP ticket, contested this election as a Congress candidate. The BJP faced internal challenges as well. BJP leader and three-time MLA from Udupi, Raghupathi Bhat, ran for the Graduates' Constituency, while former Syndicate member S.R. Harish Acharya contested the Teachers' Constituency.

People were keen to see if these rebels would win or if their presence would help the Congress candidates. Despite these challenges, the BJP-JD(S) alliance emerged victorious in both constituencies.

"Traditionally, the Southwest Teachers' and Southwest Graduates' Constituencies have been our stronghold. BJP is strong in Malnad and Coastal Karnataka, and we have proved it in this election as well," BJP Mangaluru Vibhag Prabhari Udaykumar Shetty told Deccan Chronicle.

"The rebels could neither win nor did their presence help the Congress. The rebel candidates might have had a hold in some pockets but not in all the five and a half districts. Raghupathi Bhat had won the election as Udupi MLA because of the BJP. Our party organization is strong in the region. That is why, despite the rebellion, we won the election," he added.