BENGALURU: The BBMP election results came as a surprise to many as some candidates won in wards which were considered as forts of other parties. Here is how the fortunes of the parties changed this election.
The influence of former minister V Somanna in Vijayanagar and Govindarajnagar assembly constituencies has waned. When Somanna quit the Congress and joined the BJP in 2009, many of his supporters followed him and contested the BBMP elections in 2010 and BJP won 14 of the 17 wards.
Now both the constituencies are represented by Congress and BJP’s tally has come down to 11.
Yelahanka, represented by BJP MLA Vishwanath, has four wards. Previously all four were represented by BJP but this time, Vishwanath’s wife Vanishree lost to a Congress candidate.
K R Puram, which was once a safe zone for BJP, had eight BJP councillors out of nine wards. Now it won only in three wards with Congress increasing its tally from one to six.
BJP regained its hold on Basavanagudi by winning all six wards this time. Earlier, Congress and JD(S) had won one ward each.
Congress has made inroads into BJP stronghold Bommanahalli by winning one ward. BJP had held all eight wards in the previous term. According to Congress leaders, Bommanahalli is a tough fort for Congress to breach.
JD(S) has opened its account in BTM Layout assembly constituency, represented by City-in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy. Congress has maintained its tally of five seats while BJP has managed to win two wards as against the three in the previous election.
Agriculture Minister Krishna Byregowda is being credited for the Congress winning four seats in Byatarayanapura from its previous tally of one seat.
Interestingly, Shanthinagar that had hardcore Congress voters, has turned to BJP this time. Represented by Congress MLA N A Haris, the BJP has won in four seats.
In Mahadevapura, Congress has lost four seats and managed to win in just three wards.
In Rajarajeshwarinagar, where the MLA was from the BJP, the party had won five wards out of nine. Now, with Congress MLA Muniratna representing the constituency, the BJP managed win in just three wards and Congress has increased its tally to five.
In C V Raman Nagar, BJP has won in just three wards from its previous score of seven, despite the assembly constituency being represented by its MLA S Raghu.
Both the Congress and BJP have retained the number of wards held at Gandhinagar at five and wards respectively.
BJP seems to have lost some grip on Malleswaram as its tally has reduced from six to five.
BJP has won in Singasandra, the only BBMP ward in Anekal, which incidentally is represented by the Congress in the Assembly.