HUBBALLI: Congress on Tuesday wrested the Ballari Lok Sabha seat from BJP after 14 years by registering a landslide victory in the bypoll.The victory of Congress in Ballary has also once again proved Water resource minister DK Shivakumar's organisational skills and capacities and he also gained his political supremacy in Ballari district.With this victory, DK Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga leader also got a foothold in north Karnataka after facing political rivalry from Jarkiholi brothers.However, the defeat of BJP has also spoiled the chances of MLA Sriramulu emerging as an alternative to state BJP President BS Yeddyurappa.Under DK Shivakumar's lead, young leaders of Congress campaigned for VS Ugrappa while Sriramulu was lone star campaigner in Ballari since party president BS Yeddyurappa had focussed on Shivamogga. Even joint rally by JD(S) Supremo HD Devegowda and former CM Siddaramaiah had given much needed boost to the congress to defeat BJP in the byelection.Ballary is reserved for ST and the efforts of Congress to project VS Ugrappa as Valmiki leader have paid off with his big victory.Ballari Lok Sabha constituency was a Congress party's bastion till 2004. After this, Ballari mining baron G Janaradhan Reddy and Sreeramulu's family members retained this seat by winning all election from 2004. Now the Congress broke that monopoly and retained the seat after 14 years.Congress candidate VS Ugrappa has polled 6,28,365 votes against BJP. BJP's J Shantha bagged 3,85,204 votes. Ugrappa won with a margin of 2,43,261 votes. It is said, Ugrappa also broke the record set by Sonia Gandhi and Sreeramulu in previous Lok Sabha elections by winning with such a massive margin.After results, MLA Sreeramulu said, he owns the responsibility for the party's defeat in Ballari bypoll and also said, he doesn't want to hold anyone responsible for party's miserable defeat.Congress winning candidate VS Ugrappa attributed his victory to united fight by both congress and JD(S) and the party's ideologies. I have a gut feeling that people will support me and it is true now. I will be here for serving people of this constituency.

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