Congress adds salt to the wound of BJP by clinching Jayanagar seat

Bengaluru:Congress snatched succeeded their Jayanagar seat in  Karnataka Assembly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when its  candidate Soumya Reddy  was declared elected defeating B N Prahalad Babu  by a margin of 3775 votes today.Ms Reddy, daughter of former  Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy of the Congress had polled 54,457 votes as  against 51,568 votes secured by Mr Prahalad.

The Election to  Jayanagar was countermanded during the May 12 Assembly elections  following the demise of of BJP candidate B N Vijayakumar. BJP in an  attempt to gain sympathy vote had fielded his brother Prahalad despite  some protest from local corporators belonging to the BJP.

JD(S)  nominee Kalegowda had retired from contest in favour of the congress  candidate following the formation of the JD(S) congress coalition  government in the state.

With this win the Congress strength went up to 79 in the Assembly. (UNI)