Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister DV Sadananada Gowda on Thursday won the byelection to the Legislative Council defeating Congress candidate Anand Gaddadevaramath by a comfortable margin of 54 votes in a straight contest after JDS chose to abstain.

Gowda secured 123 votes as against 69 by Anand out of the 199 votes polled in the election in which the assembly members formed the electoral college while seven votes were declared as invalid.
 
The 26-member JDS group abstained from voting, which ensured an easy victory for Gowda, who became the upper house member fulfilling the Constitutional requirement to get elected to the state legislature within six months of becoming the CM.

Gowda, a Lok Sabha member, was sworn in Chief Minister in August after BS Yeddyurappa was asked by the BJP Central leadership to quit over his indictment in the Lokayukta report on illegal mining.
 
The main opposition Congress which sought to fish in troubled waters amid reports that there might be cross voting from a divided BJP suffered embarrassment when its candidate was defeated. It had to face criticism from its own legislators for forcing the contest though the party had no numbers to win the bypoll.

In the 225-member assembly, BJP has 120 members including the Speaker. Congress has 71, JDS 26, seven independents and one nominated member.

Last Updated 17:15

CM Sadananda Gowda in the lead to be MLC: 75% voting over

Bangalore: The by-poll to state legislative council from assembly constituency started at 9AM on Thursday, December 22. CM Devaragunda Sadananda Gowda is the leading candidate, with a little-known Congress candidate Anand Gaddadevaramath opposing him.

The JD-S party MLAs(26) are neutral in this by-poll, whereas Sriramulu(MLA) made a secret ballot preference. The Bellary 8 MLAs have voted in the by-