Bengaluru, 27 Oct (H.S.): BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate A.P. Ranganath won the Bengaluru Teachers’ constituency election to the Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday, defeating Congress nominee Puttanna after overturning an early deficit.

According to information available from the counting, Ranganath secured victory by approximately 700 votes. The result marked a setback for the ruling Congress, whose candidate had taken the lead in the opening round but failed to retain the advantage as counting progressed.

Puttanna was ahead by around 150 votes after the first round, raising initial hopes in the Congress camp. However, the contest swung in Ranganath’s favour in the second round. He subsequently maintained his lead through the third and fourth rounds to emerge victorious.

The defeat ended Puttanna’s run of four consecutive victories from the teachers’ constituency, where he had established a strong electoral presence. His inability to retain the seat made the outcome particularly significant for the opposition alliance.

Puttanna had also unsuccessfully contested the Rajajinagar Assembly constituency before being fielded by the Congress for the Bengaluru Teachers’ seat. The party’s decision to nominate him again placed an experienced candidate at the centre of what became a closely fought Council contest.

The BJP and JD(S) conducted a coordinated campaign for Ranganath, with both parties working jointly to mobilise support among the constituency’s teacher electorate. His victory gave the alliance a significant electoral success against the Congress.

Meanwhile, counting trends indicated that BJP candidates were leading in three other constituencies, raising the possibility of the opposition alliance securing all four seats. Those leads, however, had not been confirmed as victories in the information available.

While the remaining results were awaited, Ranganath’s comeback from a first-round deficit provided the alliance with an early success and left the Congress facing the loss of a constituency represented repeatedly by its candidate over successive elections.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman