Bidar: In an interesting electoral shift, two young Congress leaders, both children of Karnataka cabinet ministers, have unseated senior BJP leaders and sitting MPs in a dramatic election outcome.
Sagar Khandre, 26, the youngest MP in the state, emerged as a giant slayer by dethroning Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba in Bidar. Meanwhile, 27-year-old Priyanka Jarkiholi, daughter of Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi defeated sitting BJP MP Annasaheb Jolle in Chikkodi.
Sagar's victory in Bidar was marked by a decisive margin of 1,28,875 votes. Initially trailing, Sagar made a remarkable comeback in the later rounds, ultimately unseating the Union Minister. Sagar, the son of Karnataka’s Forest and Ecology Minister Eshwar Khandre, represents the third generation of his family in politics.
Bidar, traditionally a Congress stronghold, had shifted to the BJP when Ramachandra Veerappa won in 1991 and held the seat until 2004. After his death, Narsingrao Suryawanshi won the 2004 by-election for Congress and Former CM Dharam Singh continued to win it for Congress in 2009. But it fell back to the BJP with Bhagwanth Khuba's victories in 2014 and 2019, leading to his elevation as Union Minister of State for Chemical and Fertilizers. Now, the Congress has regained its foothold in Bidar.
Sagar Khandre’s victory is significant, not only for its margin but also for the political dynamics within the BJP. Discontent among local BJP leaders and strong opposition to Khuba’s candidacy contributed to his defeat, with several local BJP leaders opposing his nomination.
In Chikkodi, traditionally a Congress bastion, Priyanka Jarkiholi restored Congress dominance by defeating Annasaheb Jolle with a margin of 90,834 votes. The seat had briefly turned BJP when Ramesh Katti won in 2004 and 2009 and again by Annasaheb in 2019.
Meanwhile, Radhakrishna, son-in-law of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, secured a victory in Gulbarga by defeating incumbent MP Dr. Umesh Jadhav with a margin of 27,205 votes.
Speaking to reporters, he expressed gratitude to party workers and leaders for their efforts.
Mrinal Hebbalkar, son of Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, contested from Belagavi against BJP’s Jagadish Shettar but was defeated. Similarly, Minister Shivanand Patil’s daughter Samyukta contested from Bagalkot against sitting MP PC Gaddigoudar and also faced defeat.
