New Delhi: Congress candidate CP Yogeshwara won Channapatna Assembly by-elections in Karnataka, defeating JD(S)’s Nikhil Kumaraswamy, an actor-turned-politician and scion of a prominent political dynasty.
CP Yogeshwara defeated Nikhil Kumaraswamy by 25,413 votes. The by-election was triggered by the vacancy left after Union minister HD Kumaraswamy's election to the Lok Sabha.
In Channapatna, the electoral contest garnered significant attention, with JD(S)'s Nikhil Kumaraswamy, an actor-turned-politician and scion of a prominent political dynasty, taking center stage. Nikhil, the son of former Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, faced off against CP Yogeeshwara from Congress, a seasoned politician with his own background in acting and a history of navigating Karnataka's political landscape.
Channapatna Results: What Trends Show
In Karnataka's Channapatna, a high-stakes battle is unfolding. Nikhil Kumaraswamy, the son of former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy and grandson of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, is determined to retain his family’s stronghold. Facing him is seasoned politician C.P. Yogeeshwara, a five-time MLA and former minister, now representing Congress, who is keen to break the JD(S)’s dominance.
For Nikhil, a victory would have signalled a much-needed political resurgence after setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2023 Assembly elections. His campaign emphasised development and the welfare of the Vokkaliga community, which remains a core JD(S) support base. A win would also reaffirm the party's influence in the region.
On the other hand, Yogeeshwara, who recently switched from the BJP to Congress, pitched himself as a harbinger of change. Leveraging his extensive political experience, he is focusing on promises of better infrastructure and enhanced welfare programs to sway voters.
The Congress victory also bolstered Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and his brother, former MP DK Suresh, consolidating their influence in the Vokkaliga heartland of Ramanagara. The outcome is pivotal for all involved, shaping both regional dynamics and broader state politics.
Previous Results
The Channapatna Assembly Constituency, located in Karnataka's Ramanagara district, witnessed a voter turnout of 85.23% in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections. In that contest, H.D. Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal (Secular) emerged victorious, defeating C.P. Yogeshwar of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by a margin of 15,915 votes.
This constituency falls under the Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha seat, where in the 2024 general elections, BJP candidate Dr. C.N. Manjunath claimed victory over Congress’s D.K. Suresh, winning by a margin of 269,647 votes.