Karnataka BJP chief Vijayendra visits defeated candidate, vows 2028 comeback
Synopsis
Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra's post-defeat visit to Davanagere wasn't just a consolation call — it was a political signal. With a 5,708-vote loss in hand and panchayat elections looming, Vijayendra is already framing 2028 as the BJP's redemption arc, while alleging Congress used welfare scheme instalments as electoral currency.
Key Takeaways
Dasakariyappa lost the Davanagere South bypoll to Congress's Samarth Mallikarjun by 5,708 votes .
Karnataka BJP President B.Y.
Vijayendra visited the defeated candidate on 6 May 2025 for a post-poll review and morale boost.
BJP secured approximately 63,000 votes ; Vijayendra had expected over 70,000 .
Vijayendra alleged the Congress's Gruhalaxmi scheme instalments were timed to influence bypoll voters.
BJP has set its sights on returning to power in Karnataka in 2028 .
Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra on Tuesday, 6 May visited the residence of defeated BJP candidate Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa in Davanagere, as part of a post-bypoll review and morale-boosting exercise. Vijayendra held discussions with district BJP leaders on strengthening the party's organisational presence in Davanagere district, following a narrow defeat in the Davanagere South assembly segment.
The Bypoll Defeat
Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa lost the Davanagere South bypoll to the Indian National Congress (Congress) candidate Samarth Mallikarjun by a margin of 5,708 votes. Despite the loss, the BJP candidate secured approximately 63,000 votes — a figure Vijayendra described as significant for a party worker operating against the incumbent Congress government's machinery.
Vijayendra noted that the party had anticipated a tally of over 70,000 votes, but acknowledged that the result did not go their way. During the meeting, Dasakariyappa became emotional, and Vijayendra consoled him. In a gesture of solidarity, the BJP president also had dosa at the defeated candidate's home. Several senior leaders, including former minister M.P. Renukacharya, accompanied Vijayendra on the visit.
What Vijayendra Said
Speaking to reporters, Vijayendra expressed confidence that the BJP's fortunes in Davanagere would turn around.
Point of View
708-vote loss in a ruling-party-favoured bypoll is not a catastrophe — but the BJP's challenge in Karnataka runs deeper than one seat. Invoking Yediyurappa's resilience and Modi-Shah's West Bengal playbook signals that the party is leaning on legacy and national leadership rather than a fresh state-level narrative. The Gruhalaxmi allegation, meanwhile, is a double-edged sword: it energises the base but risks sounding like excuse-making to swing voters the BJP needs to win back by 2028.
NationPress
8 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Davanagere South bypoll?
The BJP's candidate Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa lost to Congress's Samarth Mallikarjun by a margin of 5,708 votes in the Davanagere South assembly bypoll. The BJP secured around 63,000 votes but fell short of its own target of over 70,000.
Why did Vijayendra visit Davanagere after the bypoll?
Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra visited the residence of the defeated candidate on 6 May 2025 to review the defeat, boost party morale, and discuss organisational strengthening in Davanagere district with local BJP leaders.
What is the Gruhalaxmi scheme controversy Vijayendra raised?
Vijayendra alleged that the Congress government released four to five months of Gruhalaxmi scheme instalments just before the bypoll, calling it 'Election Laxmi' and suggesting the welfare payments were timed to influence voters.
What is the BJP's Karnataka target after the bypoll loss?
Vijayendra reaffirmed the BJP's goal of returning to power in Karnataka in the 2028 state assembly elections, citing PM Modi and Amit Shah's West Bengal strategy as a model and invoking former CM B.S. Yediyurappa's political resilience.
Who accompanied Vijayendra on the Davanagere visit?
Former minister M.P. Renukacharya and several other BJP leaders accompanied Karnataka BJP President B.Y. Vijayendra during his visit to Srinivas T. Dasakariyappa's residence in Davanagere.
