Congress’ E Tukaram defeats BJP's B Sreeramulu to win in Bellary

Bellary is a key region in Karnataka, thanks to the minefields and its jeans production.

E Tukaram, the leader from Indian National Congress, has defeated BJP’s B Sreeramulu, according to data available with the election commission of India (ECI). The sitting MP, BJP's B Sriramulu, was hoping to fight an anti-incumbency wave and re-win the seat, but that however did not materialise.

Tukaram got a total of 7,30,845 votes which was 98,992 more than B Sreeramulu's 6,31,853, ECI data showed.

At an overall level, the BJP, along with the JD(S), won in 17 seats in Karnataka and Congress, on the other hand, won in a total of nine seats. For Congress, this a big turnaround as it had only won one seat in 2019.

The NDA comprising BJP and Janata Dal (Secular), was however leading in the state after winning 16 seats of the total 28 seats (it was leading in its 17th seat). Congress however made inroads by winning 8 seats of the 28 seats (it was leading in its 9th seat). In 2019, it had won just one of the 28 seats.

That was likely because Congress promising free bus rides for women, waiving off electricity bills for consumption up to 200 units, aid of Rs 2,000 each to the women heads of families, among others, wooed voters, especially women in Karnataka.

Bellary is a key region in Karnataka, thanks to the minefields and its jeans production. In fact, Congress’ Rahul Gandhi, in April, promised to make Bellary the jeans capital of India by establishing a jeans park.

The region is also famous because of G Janardhana Reddy, the mining baron, who is an accused in nine CBI cases linked to illegal mining during the 2008-2013 period, when the BJP was in power.

After a brief break, Reddy returned to the BJP earlier this year.

Bellary is also famous for its 1999 Lok Sabha elections when the current MP, B Sriramulu, used to work under late union minister Sushma Swaraj. In 1999, Swaraj contested against the Congress’ Sonia Gandhi and lost the seat.