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Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar Wins Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha Seat

The scion of erstwhile Mysore royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, a BJP-Janata Dal Secular (JDS) coalition candidate has won Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha seat by defeating his close rival M.Lakshman of the Congress party by a margin of about 1. 39 lakh votes.

Mysuru is the home turf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and it was third straight defeat of the Congress nominees in Mysuru-Kodagu seat. Yaduveer, contested on BJP symbol, got 7, 95, 503 votes and Lakshman secured 6, 56, 240 votes.

By registering victory in the seat, Yaduveer became the second from the Mysore royal family to enter Lok Sabha after his father Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar who won as a Congress nominee. Srikanta Datta Narasimharaja Wadiyar contested the 1991 Lok Sabha election as a BJP nominee and lost to Congress. Srikanta Datta returned to the Congress party and won in 1999 but lost the 2004 election.

By winning Mysuru-Kodagu seat, BJP maintained its winning streak. Earlier, BJP nominee Pratap Simha won the seat in 2014 and 2019 but he was replaced by Yaduveer in 2024 election. Last time, Congress won Mysuru-Kodagu seat was in 2009 when A.H. Vishwanath, a former minister, was the party nominee.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that the contributions of the royal family to the region especially the construction of Krishnaraja Sagar, a reservoir to cater to the drinking water needs of Mysuru, and Mandya districts helped his cause. The Congress nominee was no match for Yaduveer in the contest considering his popularity.

Sources added that Congress party's gamble to field Lakshman, from Vokkaliga community who form a major chunk of voters in Mysuru-Kodagu seat failed to pay dividends for the party. It was calculated by the party leaders that Lakshman would garner more votes from the Vokkaliga community to boost his chances of success in the election.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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