Ballari: The Congress continued its dominance in Sandur, with Annapoorna Tukaram's decisive victory in the by-election, defeating BJP’s Bangaru Hanumantha by a margin of 9,649 votes.
Annapoorna won 93,616 votes against Hanumantha’s 83,967, reinforcing Congress’s hold on the constituency, which has remained a stronghold for decades.
The Congress maintained a strong lead from the first round of counting. Although the BJP briefly overtook during a few rounds, Congress quickly regained momentum, with Annapoorna consistently widening her margin in subsequent rounds.
Expressing gratitude to the voters after the announcement of the results, Annapoorna said, “This victory is a testament to the unity and hard work of our party. People have voted for development. Despite the BJP’s vigorous campaign, including Janardhan Reddy’s presence, the people of Sandur trusted us. This win strengthens our bastion further.”
She added that she and her husband, E. Tukaram, who is now the Ballari MP, will work together for the development of the constituency and the district.
Taking responsibility for the defeat, Bangaru Hanumantha termed the result as a triumph of “Adharma” over “Dharma.”
Speaking to reporters, he said, “Money power played a significant role in this election. This was not a fair fight. I apologize to BJP leaders, including state president BY Vijayendra, former CM BS Yediyurappa, and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, whom I had assured of victory.”
Hanumantha acknowledged the tireless efforts of party workers but cited the Congress’s advantage in Muslim- and Kuruba-dominated areas as a critical factor.
He also alleged that Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi’s campaign and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s three-day stay in the constituency tilted the scales in favor of Congress.
"Shivaraj Tangadagi campaigned for Congress and money was distributed. Chief Minister held talks with community leaders during his visit," he alleged.
He stated that the release of money for the guarantee schemes just days before the election was another influencing factor.
“If it had been a direct fight, the BJP would have emerged victorious. Considering the numbers, we view this as a moral victory and are confident of winning Sandur in 2028,” he declared.
Sandur has been a Congress bastion. The party retained its stronghold until 1983, when a Janata Party wave briefly disrupted its dominance. Congress reclaimed the seat in 1989 and held it through subsequent elections until 2004, when Santosh Lad of the Janata Dal (Secular) won. However, Lad later joined Congress, further consolidating the party’s position.
In 2008, after delimitation reclassified Sandur as an ST-reserved constituency, Lad’s associate E. Tukaram won the seat for Congress, initiating an era of repeated victories in 2013, 2018, and 2023. Tukaram vacated the seat after his election as Ballari MP in 2024.
