For 14 long years, BJP has won Bellary MP seat thanks to the influence of mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy brothers and B. Sriramulu. Today, BJP lost Bellary bye-poll with a huge margin resulting in a big blow to the Gali Janardhan Reddy brothers more than anybody else.
Former CM and Congress leader welcomed the voters’ verdict, saying that with their present mandate, the Ballary people have now come out of darkness into the light during this Deepavali festival season.
Congress-JDS candidate Ugrappa won over BJP nominee J. Shanta with a majority of over 2 lakh votes. Following this, the Janardhan Reddy camp is plunged into gloom with BJP offices there wearing a near deserted look.
The Bellary seat was seen as a prestigious poll. The Reddy brothers, Sriramulu and even Yeddyurappa campaigned vigorously for the BJP candidate. The rivals are describing Bellary verdict as a rejection of the mining mafia by the people there.
