The Congress, that was anticipating a big victory in the Periyapatna Assembly election, managed to scrape through with a thin margin of 2,088 votes against the JD(S).
Congress candidate K Venkatesh secured 62,045 votes against JD(S)’ K Mahadev who got 59,957. While BSR candidate H D Ganesh got 5,669 votes, BJP candidate R T Satish was pushed to the fourth place with 3,731 votes.
It was a nail-biting contest for candidates, leaders and party workers as the Congress-JD(S) difference was very narrow in all the 18 rounds. The Congressmen became jittery in the 16th round as the lead was reduced to just 1,222 votes.
K Mahadev shocked everyone by maintaining a lead in the first four rounds. However, the Congress that got a lead of 1,514 votes in the fifth round, managed to keep the lead in all the 18 rounds to win the prestigious seat for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwar, and help the party maintain a winning spree in the state. The elections to the Periyapatna Assembly constituency was also a matter of prestige for JD(S) as former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy had eyed a seat to improve its tally to 41 to get the principal Opposition status.
As the margin was fluctuating between 991 and 2,000 votes between the Congress and JD(S) candidates, party workers with crossed fingers kept away from the counting place till the results were
announced.
Congress candidate Venkatesh, who was not confident of victory, came to the counting centre at 1 pm. Officials and others, including MP A H Vishwanath and local Congress leaders, had to wait for the candidate to celebrate victory.
Venkatesh said it was a close call as the victory margin was narrow, contrary to the high expectations of partymen. “I am thankful to the people of the constituency for reposing faith in me. I will strive for the overall development of the constituency,” he said.
Vishwanath said the victory has strengthened the hands of Siddaramaiah. He said the margin victory does not count in democracy and hopes that it would further enhance the popularity of the government.
