Bengaluru: In a dramatic political upset, the JDS has suffered a major defeat in former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's stronghold of Hassan. NDA candidate Prajwal Revanna, embroiled in a sexual abuse case, lost the Lok Sabha election to the youthful Congress candidate, 32-year-old Shreyas Patel, by a substantial margin of 43,588 votes.
The contest began with Prajwal in the lead during the initial rounds of counting, but momentum shifted as Shreyas Patel surged ahead, ultimately clinching the victory. Adding to the intrigue, this election saw the highest number of NOTA votes ever recorded in the Hassan constituency.
Hassan's political landscape is deeply rooted in the legacy of Deve Gowda, who has represented the constituency five times.
The familial and political rivalry adds another layer to the story: Patel's grandfather, former Karnataka minister G Puttaswamy Gowda, defeated Deve Gowda in this very constituency in 1999. The two grandfathers had a storied rivalry, facing off in assembly elections twice, with each winning once – Deve Gowda in 1985 and Puttaswamy Gowda in 1989.
The political dynasties have clashed repeatedly. Puttaswamy Gowda challenged HD Revanna, Deve Gowda’s son, in the Holenarsipur assembly constituency but was defeated both times. Last year, Shreyas Patel narrowly lost to HD Revanna in the Karnataka assembly elections from the same constituency by just 3,152 votes.
In an unfolding legal drama, SIT officers escorted Prajwal Revanna to Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru for a medical examination amid his legal troubles.
This election not only highlights the shifting political currents in Hassan but also underscores the enduring legacies and rivalries that shape Karnataka's political arena.