Date:08/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/08/stories/2006120810410500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Narrow margins between victory and defeat

Govind D. Belgaumkar and Raghava M.

22 candidates have won by fewer than 257 votes, since 1983

BANGALORE: Since 1983, 22 candidates have won Assembly elections in the State with margins lower than 257, which was Congress candidate Siddaramaiah's victory margin in the Chamundeshwari byelection.

In 2004 Congress candidate Dhruvanarayan R. won by one vote over Krishnamurthy A.R. of the Janata Dal (Secular) in Santhemaranahalli constituency in Chamarajanagar district.

Lowest bypoll margin

Among the byelections held in the State since it was formed, Mr. Siddaramaiah, who won by 257 votes on Thursday, holds the record for lowest victory margin.

Forty-two candidates have won Assembly elections in the State since 1983 by fewer than 500 votes.

Repeat performance

Four constituencies — Baindur, Nippani, Shahabad and Bagalkot — have elected candidates with a below-500 vote margin twice each.

K.B. Shanappa of the Communist Party of India (CPI), who defeated Narsingarao Jadhav of the Congress by 298 votes in 1983 in Shahabad, did the same in 1985 by winning with a lead of 75 votes over Gurunath Chandram, an independent candidate.

Rajashekar Kanthi of the Congress lost twice in Bagalkot: by 138 votes in 1999 and 184 votes in 1985.

R. Roshan Baig, who contested from Shivajinagar in Bangalore in 1989 on the Janata Dal ticket, lost by 91 votes to A.K. Ananthakrishna of the Congress.

Among others who won Assembly elections by fewer than 500 votes since 1983 are B.B. Chimmanakatti of the Congress (397 votes) from Badami in 1999, H.D. Revanna of the JD(S) (122 votes) from Holenarsipur in 1994, A. Krishnappa of the Congress (98 votes) from Varthur in 1985 and K.B. Koliwad of the Congress (357 votes) from Ranebennur in 1985.

Narrow losses

Among known politicians who lost elections by a slender margin are H. Vishwanath of the Congress (323) from K.R. Nagar in 2004, Govind M. Karjol of the JD(U) (439) from Mudhol in 1999, G. Puttaswamy Gowda of the Congress (122) from Holenarsipur in 1994, Motamma of the Congress (33 votes) from Mudigere in 1985, D.B. Chandre Gowda of the erstwhile Janata Party (74) from Tirthahalli in 1985 and Vaijnath S. Patil of the Janata Party (88) from Chincholi in 1983.

In all, 19 Congress candidates won Assembly elections by fewer than 500 votes since 1983. Fifteen Congressmen lost elections by that margin in the same period.