Karnataka bypolls: Setback to CM Bommai, Congress snatches seat from BJP in his home district

In a setback to the BJP and Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai, Congress snatched the Hangal Assembly constituency from the ruling party by a margin of 7,373 votes on Tuesday.

Two assembly constituencies of Karnataka Sindgi and Hangal voted in the bypolls on October 30. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the Sindgi while the Congress won the Hangal seat.

The BJP had earlier held the Hangal seat in Haveri, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s home district. A victory here is more significant for the Congress as it leaves CM Bommai and the BJP red-faced. The Congress won this seat by over 7,000 votes. The contest was always seen a tough battle but the BJP had hoped to win this seat, even by a small margin.