Karnataka byelections: BJP squeezes out the win in Belagavi

The BJP’s Mangala Angadi on Sunday won by a slender margin of 5,240 votes against Satish Jarkiholi of the Congress in Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency. This was in stark contrast to the late Suresh Ang

The BJP’s Mangala Angadi on Sunday won by a slender margin of 5,240 votes against Satish Jarkiholi of the Congress in Belagavi Lok Sabha constituency. This was in stark contrast to the late Suresh Angadi’s victory margin of 3.91 lakh votes two years ago. Political observers say multiple factors contributed to the close fight, first among them being the “Jarkiholi factor”. Mr. Satish Jarkiholi, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee vice-president who has publicly shared his dream of “becoming the Chief Minister of Karnataka one day”, went out in full force. This was unlike the mild contenders that Suresh Angadi had to face in the past, including political greenhorn V.S. Sadhunavar, KLE director, in 2019. Mr. Satish Jarkiholi, during the campaign, kept referring to the “Jarkiholi family vote”. That seems to have remained intact, say observers. His supporters say he had turned it into a “personal fight”. Another reason is the near absence of Ramesh Jarkiholi, his brother and BJP leader, following his involvement in the CD scandal. And the reduced enthusiasm of another brother, Balachandra Jarkiholi, also with the BJP, in the campaign was obvious.